UNTABA urges CM to initiate step on Assam-Nagaland border issue

EMN
Dimapur, April 13

United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) team has submitted a memorandum to state chief minister through the Parliamentary Secretary Border Affairs Mhonlumo Kikon and held an extensive discussion on Assam-Nagaland border issue.
In an interaction, the parliamentary secretary assured the team that various initiatives are on the pipeline including replacement of unfit officers and deployment of smart and capable officers in the civil and police administration and border magistrates and border police officers in the bordering areas who will be given orientations on various issues from time to time.
The team members included Hukavi T. Yeputhomi, Chairman; Imsumongba Pongen, General Secretary; Tiameren Aier and T.L. Angami, Advisors; Apeto Assumi, Nungsang Longkumer and Richard Haolai Executive Committee Members; and Shikuto Zalipu GS, NGBF.
The UNTABA in a memorandum demanded restoration of transferred Naga areas into Nagaland. The Association strongly urged the government of Nagaland to immediately initiate appropriate step to demand for the complete implementation of points No. 12 & 13 of ‘16-Point Agreement’ of 1960 so as to restore all the transferred reserve forests and Naga territories illegally occupied by Assam to Nagaland state.
The UNTABA also said, it has exploring all possible initiative towards the resolution of the most contentious border issue that has been confronting the Naga people even after more than five decades of the attainment of statehood.“In this regard, we have implored the Government of India through the Prime Minister office and the Interlocutor RN Ravi of the Indo-Naga political negotiation currently underway on what basis the Indo-Naga political imbroglio can be resolved.
The Association said, “We have presented an unambiguous stand that the Naga lands that was alienated to its rightful ownership should be brought back to Naga people as agreed in the ‘9-Point Agreement’ of June 27 — 29, 1947 at Kohima between the Naga people, the then Naga National Council (NNC) and the Emissaries of the Interim Government of India Akbar Hydari Ali, the then Governor of Assam and GN Bordoloi, the then Premier of Assam, wherein all the 22 transferred Reserved Forests and all the contiguous Naga inhabited areas are committed to be consolidated into Nagaland.”
“However, instead of seriously concentrating on this core issue of the Naga people, the successive Government of Nagaland since the inception of Nagaland statehood, had completely diverted the issue, in fact, had completely sidelined and forgotten this prime issue of the Naga people by shifting its own responsibility to elsewhere.” UNTABA added.

Meanwhile, it was learned that a group of people from allegedly backed by Bongo Sena entered Rilan village jurisdiction and tried to do some excavation work. However, after exchange of words with the Rilan and Indisen villagers, the former relented and were forced to return.