Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, November 24 2010:
Reiterating its earlier stand, the NSCN-K or GRPN/NSCN has said today that people from Manipur and other states have 'encroached' Nagaland's Intangki Reserve Forest thereby threatening the very existence of the forest.
The NSCN-K also alleged that top leaders of NSCN-IM such as Rh.
Raising, Lungalang, Puni, Khuyao and Hangshi have their farms in the Intangki Reserve Forest.
In a statement today, the NSCN-K lamented that a satellite derived image of the Google Earth clearly shows new settlements in the Intangki Reserve Forest.
It said that how those people in power continue to play their politics, destroying the reserve forest and sowing hatred and communal seeds in the minds of the people.
"The Intangki National Reserve Forest is almost wiped out by greedy migrants from other states and it is bizarre that while there are many new settlements inside Intangki Reserve Forest, the state government continue to talk about evicting one single village which has representatives from twelve Naga tribes," the NSCN-K said.
The outfit then stated that the issue of illegal settlements and encroachments in the Intangki Reserve Forest is undoubtedly a by-product of the state government's inexplicable stand of acknowledging migrants from Manipur and other states and labeling settlers from Nagaland state as encroa-chers.
"The once natural forest has been turned into farms belonging to so many officials from Hebron Camp (NSCN-IM) including Hangshi, Raising, Khuyao, Lungalang, Puni and many others.
GPRN/NSCN (NSCN-K) is also aware that there are many new villages inside the reserve forest by who do not even speak Nagamese or follow Christianity.
while and the state government constantly plot to evict Nagas from proper Nagaland state," the NSCN-K alleges.
The dispute between Lilen Kuki Village and Beisumpuikam village was settled by the deputy commissioner of Kohima on September 12, 1985 which clearly shows that Beisumpuikam was an illegal settlement.
The High court double bench confirmed this judgment as per court order dated 02/05/94, the NSCN-K pointed out.
It then said that in 1992, Beisumpuikam villagers shifted illegally inside Intangki National Reserve forest on the bank of the Monglomukh river.
This is a good 7 to 8 kms away from their original settlement.
GPRN/NSCN (NSCN-K) is aware that there is a discreet policy at work and a day will come when these so-called guardians of the Naga people will have to answer the people," the NSCN-K said.