Contending parties had agreed to resolve land dispute by Naga customary way, says Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation

Dimapur, March 25 (EMN): Amid indefinite bandh imposed by the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) in its jurisdiction over land dispute, thus affecting traffic along the National Highway-2, the Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) on Friday stated that three contending parties — SAPO, Mao Council and Maram Khullen – had signed an “Arbitration Undertaking” in 2017 on the disputed land Kezoltsa/Koziirii/Kazing/Dziikou area.

A press release signed by TPO president and vice president said that the contending parties had unambiguously agreed to resolve the dispute by Naga customary way and on traditional ownership.

The organisation and its Boards of Arbitrators (BOA) constituted to adjudicate the dispute, had made it clear to the concerned governments that had no intention to “meddle in the affairs of the states and its boundaries but only trying to resolve the misunderstanding and dispute within the Tenyimi family”, said the press release.

TPO added that it had submitted several representations as well as met with the chief minister of Manipur after armed personnel were stationed and permanent Rcc barracks constructed in the disputed land, requesting it to stop such activities till the matter was resolved. It added that a joint representation of TPO along with the contending parties had met Manipur chief minister in November last year, appealing for immediate withdrawal of police forces from the area but to no avail.

It went on to claim that the Manipur government’s attitude had provoked SAPO to call for a bandh.

“The Manipur government should understand that Naga people are arbitrarily divided into various states and administrative units, whereby tribes and even village/clan lands are divided. There are tribes of Manipur whose lands are put under Nagaland state jurisdiction and vice-versa,” read the statement, adding that the best way to maintain peace and social harmony is to respect the traditional ownership and solve disputes through understanding.