Indefinite bandh to continue till demands are met — Southern Angami Youth Organisation

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 15 (EMN): The Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) on Friday said that the indefinite bandh being imposed in its jurisdiction would continue till its demands are met.

This came a day after the government of Manipur wrote to the government of Nagaland to take up the matter with the organisers for immediate withdrawal of the ongoing indefinite bandh along the National Highway 2 (Dimapur- Imphal highway) and to maintain peace.

The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), supported by SAYO, had called for a total bandh on March 21 within its jurisdiction, demanding the government of Manipur to withdraw its armed personnel and permanent structures at Kezoltsa area within 72 hours. It imposed an indefinite bandh on March 24 after following the failure of Manipur government to meet its demand.

Addressing a press conference at Kimipfuphe ground, Kigwema on Friday, SAYO President Metekhrielie Mejura said the decision to call off the bandh lies in the hands of the government of Manipur. If they withdraw armed personnel and permanent structures at the “encroached area” (Kezoltsa), then “we are ready” to withdraw the indefinite bandh, he said.

‘Many people are requesting us to call off this bandh and to maintain peace among the general public. But the decision to withdraw the immediate bandh is not in the hands of SAYO, SAPO or with the Nagaland government. It is completely lying in the decision of the Manipur state government,’ he added.

He said that they cannot take the matter as a state government affair because it is “purely a traditional issue”.

For many Nagas, the boundary is just a “political boundary” demarcated since the time of the British, he said, adding that “we will stand to our traditional and cultural rights and values and will uphold this in all the coming generations”.

‘SAPO imposed a 72 hours bandh but till today there is no reply nor did the Manipur government pay any heed to our demands,’ he said. Despite all “polite and humble requests”, the armed personnel and developmental activities at Kezoltsa continue, which is why the bandh has been imposed, he added.