Business Association of Nagas questions silence of authorities on ‘death threat’

DIMAPUR — The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has condemned the recent death threat issued by the NSCN/GPRN (Khango) group against the proprietor of KKB Rulho, calling for accountability and transparency from all organisations operating within Nagaland.

“Such actions are wholly unacceptable in a civilised society and merit serious scrutiny,” it said in a statement released on Thursday, criticising the state government’s lack of action against threats and intimidation, despite verbal assurances from successive governments.

“If the government fails to protect its citizens, the necessity of its existence comes into question,” it said.

BAN also pointed out a fundamental paradox in Nagaland: multiple governments impose taxes on the people but “no government to provide security to her agents of development”.

Furthermore, “there is ceasefire between Naga armed groups and the Indian Armed Forces but there is no peace at all in real sense in the minds of the people. This was not the Naga people’s dream for freedom struggle,” it added.

In this context, it questioned the effectiveness of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms, alleging that numerous cases of extortion have taken place under the watch of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFMG/CFSB). The association demanded clarification on the role of the CFMG/CFSB in curbing such incidents and questioned if they were, “in any way, in connivance for these incidents”.

Furthermore, BAN asserted that the “Naga people have not given any mandate to any Naga political group (NPG) to issue death sentences to fellow Nagas for not meeting their illegal demands”.

Maintaining that the original idea of Naga independence is to “secure ourselves from imposition of Indian taxes and alien cultures and political control”, the association said it was “unthinkable that Naga political group impose unbearable taxes upon the same people for whom they are claimed to be fighting for political freedom. This is in total contradiction to our political commitment and aspirations”.

As time passes without any tangible Naga political settlement at sight, BAN stated its disappointment to see NPGs “deviating from the principle and objectives of Naga national freedom movement and making themselves unbecoming of freedom fighters”.

Calling for a return to the core values of the Naga struggle, it urged the group responsible for issuance of capital punishment to the proprietor of KKB Rulho to withdraw the pronouncement and rather, take a new positive path in promoting Naga businessmen and entrepreneurs as fellow partners and citizens in fighting for the Naga cause.

Meanwhile, the association expressed concerns over the state of affairs in Nagaland, and said that the state’s potential remains untapped due to poor infrastructure, insecurity, multiple taxation and electoral malpractices. Consequently, the state’s economy is languishing in a state of dependency and unemployment continues to rise, jeopardising the future of younger generations, it said.

“The dire state of our economy, one of the lowest in the country, is a direct result of these compounded issues,” it said.

The association asserted that no individual or organisation should be allowed to dictate terms and impose their will through force, emphasising that such actions only perpetuate poverty and suffering. Citing the biblical principle of “work and eat,” it stressed the Naga people’s inherent right to a secure environment where they can earn a living and build a prosperous future for their children.

Further, BAN cautioned that issuing death threats only serve to alienate the public and undermines any cause, no matter its purported aims, expressing its firm refusal to allow their future generations to inherit an economy and society crippled by fear and stagnation.

Also read: Konyak Union urges GPRN/NSCN (Khango), AYO to opt for amicable resolution