NPO cautions against intrusion into Naga territory
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, September 03 2024: After Kuki Students' Organisation, Sadar Hills (KSO-SH) forcibly organised their peace rally on August 31, Naga People's Organisation (NPO) has cautioned against intrusion into Naga territory.

In a release, NPO stated that while it has nothing to do with the recent so-called peace rally organised by the KSO, Sadar Hills along with its federating bodies like Thadou Students' Association, Sadar Hills (TSA-SH), Gangte Students' Organisation, Sadar Hills (GSO-SH) and Zillai (Vaiphei Students' Association, Kangpokpi Block) on August 31, the presidential council of NPO declared that long patience of the Nagas is finally exhausted.

It reiterated that KSO, Sadar Hills by daring to bring their protest rally into Naga areas has crossed all limits and such act is open provocation to the Nagas for direct confrontation.

The repeated calls by the Nagas not to take their agitation into Naga areas were completely disregarded, deliberately ignored and treated with absolute disdain, it denounced, while adding that the August 31 incident in Naga areas of Kangpokpi was clearly a case of direct intrusion into Naga ancestral territory and open provocation for another confrontation with the Nagas.

Reiterating their strong objection over such provocative move to extend the Kuki protest rally into Naga areas, NPO said that such blatant disregard towards the Naga community indicated that Kukis don't believe in peaceful co-existence with their neighbours.

NPO further cautioned that the peace loving character of the Nagas must not be taken as granted or viewed as weakness.

Everyone should consider the implications of what if the same protest rally was organised by another community and marched through one's villages, chanting aggressive slogans that undermined or confronted one's interests.

NPO believed mutual respect and understanding are fundamental to peaceful co-existence, the release asserted.

Neither NPO judge authenticity of the audio clip that allegedly went viral and for which the protest rally was announced nor assert authority over the matter, it said.

However, it is perplexing and troubling that such a protest would be brought inside Naga areas without their consent.

Moreover, the poor attempt by KSO-SH to enlighten the apex students' body on the subject of jurisdiction reflects complete lack of understanding and is inadvisable that SDSA is fully aware of its responsibilities and Naga jurisdiction.

"It must be told that while our student body (SDSA) has the capacity and power to mobilise quickly and respond accordingly, they exercised maximum restraint under the guidance and instruction of the senior leaders, not wanting to further escalate the matter," the release said, while condemning the physical manhandling and intimidation of Naga student leaders.

The statement asserted that it is crucial to understand the emotional attachment of the Nagas with their ancestral land territory to prevent further escalation.

"Continuous violation or interference in our affairs under the guise of seeking peaceful co-existence is contradictory to peace and tranquillity," NPO said, while adding that their patience and tolerance capability is exhausted and further warned that if another provocation erupts again, the consequences could be very severe.

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