Dimapur, February 26
After about a month of simmering tension and violence between the Chang and Yimchunger communities in Tuensang district, there are hopes that the conflict has taken a turn for the good: The two communities have agreed to cessation of hostilities, an organization representing the eastern regions of Nagaland stated on Thursday.
The Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO) issued a press release on February 26 stating that the Chang and Yimchunger tribes have agreed that there would be “no violence, confrontations and killing each other between us.”
Violation of the resolution would invite action against either of the two communities as has now been agreed, the ENPO has said.The agreement was undertaken during a recent conference of the ENPO, in Longleng district, the organization informed in the press release. A ‘general conference’ of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization was conducted on February 24 in Longleng town.
Representatives from the various community organizations representing the 6 tribes, local frontal organizations, and government officers from the region, legislators representing the communities of the so-stated “eastern Nagaland” communities, and the Eastern Nagaland Women Organization, and Eastern Naga Students’ Federation and their federating units attended the conference. Representatives from Arunachal Naga Students’ Federation, and their units and “a host of public” also attended the event, the organization stated. During the event a number of resolutions were taken by the community leaders of which one was cessation of hostilities between the Chang and Yimchunger community members in Tuensang.
“The ENPO adopted a strong and firm resolution in regard to the situations and incidences occurring in and around Tuensang town which has originated over land dispute,” the press release stated.
“A firm agreement was signed in the interest of the concerned people between the conflicting tribes declaring that, henceforth, there shall be no violence, confrontations and killing each other between us.”
“Both the parties have also agreed to be bound by any action(s) that may be initiated by the ENPO against their tribe in the event of non compliance to the agreement,” the press release said.
Among other events, the conference also saw the institution of a new team of office bearers to lead the ENPO. The new team of leaders will be in office for the tenure 2015-2017. S. Khoiwang Konyak leads the new office bearers as the new president of the organization. The others include Manlang Phom taking charge of the general secretary’s post, the ENPO informed.
