UNC to ban devt projects in 'Naga areas' without permission
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, August 28 2013:
The United Naga Council (UNC) has decided that no land in 'Naga areas' would be allowed to be used for development projects or exploitation of natural resources by Government agencies or companies without the free, prior and informed consent of the land owners, the respective tribe council and the United Naga Council.
This decision was taken in the 'presidential council meeting' of the UNC yesterday at Mao Gate.
"We reiterate that the Naga people are not against development of infrastructure or facilities in Naga areas.
But no objection certificates have been obtained from simple minded villagers surreptitiously through back doors without their informed consent, as in the case of seismic survey for oil and natural gas," the UNC said today.
The Naga body, in a press release, alleged that the development aggression through mega projects have sowed seeds of discord among the people and our traditional ownership of land have been disrespected.
Such mischief will not be allowed henceforth and the tribe councils will closely monitor such devious attempts in their respective jurisdictions, it asserted.
"Forcible encroachment upon our traditional territory through physical intrusion, transfer of our land to other administrative units and attempts to barter away our land while carrying out the Indo-Burma boundary fencing will be opposed without compromise," the UNC said.
According to the UNC, yesterday's meeting had also viewed with concern at the mushrooming of social and cultural organisations bearing umbrella name suggestive of membership and constitution but without actual and due mandate of the people who are suggested/included in the nomenclature used by such organisations.
"Such organisations have been used by the adversary to dilute our issues by creating confusion and to thereby weaken our position.
It has therefore also been decided that the respective tribes council will check, disallow and derecognise any such organisation and also any individual behind such formation," the UNC announced.