Dzuko tourism footfall likely reason for SAYO tantrums
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: December 19, 2022 -

IN case the unilateral decision of Nagaland's Angami tribe to prohibit passage of Manipur's Mao people in Angami areas is not relaxed or revoked, then it could be safely stated that the relationships between the two neighbouring states will get sour and there would be permanent scar on whatever warmth there were among the people.

Notably, Angami is the dominant tribe in Kohima region, which is also the preferred land route for the people and transport operators of Manipur travelling to various parts of the country.

It is obvious that taking advantage of the vital national highway passing through their area of demographic dominance and the fact that for the Mao people the route is the most convenient means of conveyance, the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), apparently enjoying the backing of its kindred Southern Angami People's Organisation (SAPO), had the audacity to specifically forbid passage of people of Mao community in order to assert its claim over the Dzuko Valley.

In the past too, the contentious Dzuko Valley resulted in SAYO and SAPO banning movement of Manipur-bound trucks and forcing the Mao traders to cease businesses in Kohima, where fresh food and vegetable crops sold there are mainly from Mao area.

In fact, primary reason for establishment of the Mao market in Imphal at the behest of some Manipur civil societies is to extend moral support to the Mao food producers and ring out the message to the Angami people that Mao traders could sustain their livelihood activities and that Kohima, though the nearest location having substantial population, is not the only option available.

Moreover, compared to agitations in the past during which commercial vehicles and traders used to be the primary targets, this time around SAYO volunteers scouting for Mao people, torching of a truck belonging to a Senapati denizen, intimidating Mao people and thrashing of an auto rickshaw operator in Angami area are unprecedented, despicable and inhumane, especially as Christmas celebration is round the corner and every devout outstation Christian desires to return home.

During the course of any public agitation, commercial vehicles had been the usual target but Friday's incident of torching the truck by volunteers of SAYO and instances of Mao people threatened and beaten up imply that either the Nagaland government under an Angami chief minister is not keen to ensure safety of the Mao people working or studying in Kohima region or it does not believe in peaceful coexistence with its neighbour.

Without any doubt, Dzuko Valley had been in dispute between Manipur and Nagaland but prior to the government of Manipur's initiative to develop basic infrastructure and roadway linking to the increasingly popular scenic tourist spot, the Angami people had no issue as the tourists, including from Manipur preferred to trek from the Nagaland side.

However, with the government of Manipur prioritising development of tourist infrastructure and the recent trend of visitors skipping the Nagaland route, SAYO seems to be worried as the tourist footfall Angami locals used to enjoy for decades would be lost eventually.

As such, it is quite possible that had the Angami area still the only route for ascending to the Dzuko Valley then SAYO wouldn't lose their sleep even if the ownership dispute rages on.