SAPO lifts restriction on Mao community
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 20 2023: After over 3 months, Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) lifted the travel restriction imposed on Mao community within its jurisdiction.

SAPO imposed the travel restriction in protest against the alleged the 'unfair occupation of Manipur Government's Armed Forces and imposing CrPC 144 within the heart of Kezoltsa which is currently in dispute' .

The decision to lift the travel restriction was arrived at during an 'extra ordinary meeting' of Angami Public Organisation (APO) held on March 17 which was attended by its executive members, presidents of all frontal organisations, advisory board members and intellectuals.

SAPO, in a release, said that APO resolved to take over the contentious SAPO matter at hand during an extra ordinary meeting held on March 17 .

The restriction on Mao community was imposed from midnight of December 15, 2022 till March 20, 2023, the release recounted, while adding that "The interference of Manipur government in connivance with Mao Council was reacted in distaste as traditional lands straddle towards each other's arbitrarily drawn political boundaries" .

For the record, SAPO never objected to Manipur government holding its Cherry Blossom Festival, establishment of a Manipur government school or other Ma nipur government funded projects and developments carried out at Okhro Ikhro, which traditionally belongs to Maos, though technically is in Nagaland, SAPO said and added "The magnanimity of government of Nagaland is also appreciated as evident from awarding 16 Nagaland government jobs to Mao traditional landowners at TB Hospital Khuzama, Nagaland, respecting traditional landowners, and other privileges extended to the community on the basis of brotherhood, in spite of Article 371(A) strictures." Stating that it looks forward to resolving the ex isting land dispute traditionally, SAPO expressed gratitude to the Nagaland chief minister for his concern over the issue while reiterating that "redrawing political boundary of Nagaland or Manipur is not in its agenda" .

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