Naga youths warn of severing trade ties as Assam organisations resume economic blockade

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Nov. 26 (EMN): Protesters once again resorted to blocking National Highway 702D at New Sonowal in Assam’s Jorhat district bordering Mokokchung at around 6 pm on Thursday, after it was reportedly lifted as ‘goodwill gesture’ for 36 hours.

Sources from the area told Eastern Mirror that the Assam-based organisations have resumed the blockade, cutting off sizeable population of at least five Nagaland districts — Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Zunheboto — from the commercial town of Mariani in Assam.

Not taking into account the 36-hour relaxation, the blockade against Nagaland has stretched for 10 days now.  It resumed despite Jorhat DC Roshni Aparanji Korati telling reporters on Wednesday that the protestors didn’t ask for permission from the district administration and that it (permission) wouldn’t be granted even if sought for.

Meanwhile, the Tzurangkong Range Naga Youth Front (TRNYF) has warned that if the blockade continues, the people of Tzurangkong would stop all trade and commerce activities ‘with those areas in Assam that are enforcing the blockade’.

The youth front, which has been spearheading the response from Nagas affected by the blockade, issued a statement on Thursday asserting that it would not be responsible for those workers in Tsurangkong who are from the areas in Assam enforcing blockade and presently engaged in various industrial units within the area.  

“The TRNYF is no longer in a position to protect them since the patience of the people is running out. We also appeal to the neighbouring and adjoining Naga areas of Tsurangkong for solidarity and initiate measures to stop trade in the border areas as a sign of resentment to the lackadaisical attitude of the government of Assam. In such a scenario we also appeal to the state government to immediately make alternative arrangements to supply essential commodities to the affected areas,” the statement read.

The youth front also maintained that the ‘stalemate’ in the meeting between the district authorities of Mokokchung and Jorhat on November 25, was due to the ‘illogical and unreasonable demands’ made by Assam during the meeting.

“It has also come to the knowledge of the TRNYF that the authorities In Assam are engaging in pressure tactics using various proxy organisations in and around New Sonowal. This is evident by the fact that the district authorities of Jorhat have neither tried to stop the earlier blockade nor is there any information of suo-moto FIR against those organisations that earlier enforced the blockade against Nagaland at New Sonowal for 10 days. We are disheartened with the authorities in Assam, especially led by the DC Jorhat, that such illegal blockade was made to continue right under their noses.

“As cadres of the country’s civil and police services, they have chosen to turn a blind eye to human rights violations in their own jurisdictions. It is an insult to their respected and prestigious services that they are part of. There have been various court orders across the country restricting blockade of roads and highways. Blockades on national highways are illegal according to the law of the land. To the organisations that have enforced the blockade we would like to remind that Nagaland does not share an international boundary with Assam, we are presently two states in India governed by the same laws. So enforcing blockades of essential commodities, disrupting power supply by disallowing free movement of workers etc., are against basic human rights,” read the statement.

It appealed for the good sense of the protesters, reasoning that in spite of all issues at hand, trade and commerce should continue. “That is the trait of a modern civilised society,” it reminded.