SSVA rejects judgement and order of TPO Presidential Council
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, October 06 2024: As a primary stake holder, the Song Song Village Authority (SSVA) has declared its opposition to the Tenyimi People's Organisation (TPO) Presidential Council judgement and order of July 12, 2024 surrounding the Dziiko-Koziirii land (forest) dispute.

A press release issued by SSVA, Mao has stated that the SSVA, in all its representations to the General Assembly and written communications to the Mao Council (MC), has consistently insisted on the resolution of Dziiko-Koziirii issue through their common customary law.

The release stated that SSVA had outrightly objected and rejected the July 12, 2024 judgement for not entertaining the customary law and the same was communicated to the Mao Council on five occasions.

As the Mao Council allegedly ignored their verbal and written requests and went ahead to accept the TPO Presidential Council order, the village authority personally approached the president of the TPO with a letter of dissent over the acceptance given by the MC.

However, it was unsympathetically turned down, maintained the press statement.

As a last resort, the SSVA has taken the step to issue a press release in order to make their position clear to everyone on the Dziiko-Koziirii issue.

The Dziiko-Koziirii dispute was taken up by the erstwhile Tenyimi Central Union, presently Tenyimi People's Organisation (TPO) and the SVA also hailed the decision of the TPO to look into the issue at the time.

The SSVA also hailed the decision of the TPO to look into the issue.

As per Tenyimi customary law, any verdict over a dispute to be arrived at, must necessarily give due cognition of the antecedents on how the forefathers bequeathed the land to their children and based on those claims, oath taking is administered to ascertain the truth.

The solemn rite of taking oath invites moral obligations that can involve tragic misfortune and even loss of life on the part of the oath taker if he willfully lied under oath, SSVA informed.

Additionally, the basis for the outright rejection of the December 19, 2022 TPO/BOA verdict was due to the non-inclusion of the customary law which entails solemn oath taking, for which a review was made and a just and amicable solution from the august body was anticipated.

Ironically, however, the July 12, 2024 pronouncement by the TPO Presidential Council took a step further away from the traditional norms of the Mao by overlooking the bonafide ownership of Mount Isii, Dziiko and Koziirii thereby rendering it into a mere a historical judgement with no moral or ethical obligations, SSVA asserted.

SSVA has opposed the Council for awarding the custodial right to someone who is allegedly not the rightful owner.

Altering the narrative of Mount Isii will result in the erasure of Tenyimi history and identity, the release alleged.

Therefore, SSVA has condemned the judgement and order and deemed it null and void.

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