UNTABA on Nagaland-Assam border issue

Dimapur, May 29 : United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) has said that any likely judgment or outcome on the litigation process presently undergoing in the Supreme Court on the pending case (of the Original Suit No. 2 of 1988) filed by the then AGP government of Assam for arbitration of inter-state boundary between Nagaland and Assam will not be accepted by the people of Nagaland. Citing the reasons, UNTABA said, arbitration for determination on inter-state boundary between the states is unconstitutional and added that as per the constitutional provisions of Articles 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India, only the Parliament can undertake such power and that it is clearly defined in the Points No. 12 & 13 of the ’16 Points Agreement’ of 1960 between the people of Nagaland and government of India. UNTABA chairman Hukavi T. Yeputhomi and general secretary Imsumongba Pongen in a press note said the Naga people strongly believe on the political wisdom of negotiation based on the historical basis of accepting the facts of history when it comes to determination of Nagaland. The boundary issue is same with the Naga political issue, UNTABA said adding, “One cannot be settled without the other because they are interlinked.” The UNTABA informed that it will be conducting a ‘Naga Peoples’ Dialogue – II on the land and boundary issue between Nagaland and Assam some time in later part of June or first week of July this year.