KOHIMA: The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) has reportedly declared a “public emergency” across Eastern Nagaland to protest the Government of India’s (GoI) delay in settling the proposal for creating the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).
This decision was made during a joint coordination meeting held at Hotel Cedar in Dimapur, on March 5, attended by tribal bodies and frontal organizations from Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Noklak, Shamator and Kiphire districts in Nagaland.
“In light of the Government of India’s delay in settling the offer for creating Frontier Nagaland Territory through the ministry of home affairs, the tribal bodies and frontal organizations hereby declare a public emergency across Eastern Nagaland with immediate effect,” read the resolution of the joint coordination meeting.
The meeting also resolved to strictly enforce the Chenmoho resolution of February 23, which stated “not to participate in any central and state election”.
This resolution was adopted during a joint consultative meeting of the ENPO, federating tribal bodies, frontal organizations, talk team, and senior leaders at Chenmoho village in Mon district of Nagaland.
Additionally, it was emphasized that the people of Eastern Nagaland would not accept any assurance from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to be implemented after the upcoming parliamentary election process.
As part of the next phase of public protest, there will be a dawn-to-dusk ban across Eastern Nagaland on March 8, followed by intensive protests.
The resolution of the March 5 meeting further stipulated that during the period of “public emergency”, no election campaigns by any political party would be allowed within Eastern Nagaland.
It cautioned that any individual or group not adhering to this declaration would do so at their own risk.
Furthermore, in light of the unresolved FNT issue with the Government of India, the meeting decided to extend the present tenure of the ENPO executive for another three months from the date of adoption of this resolution.
Additionally, it was decided to rectify the first amendment of the ENPO constitution, released on February 23 in Chenmoho village, with all tribal presidents and one ENPO executive member.
The resolutions of the meeting were endorsed by the presidents of ENPO, Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS), Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC), Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC), Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), Eastern Sumi Hoho (ESH), Konyak Union (KU), United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji (USLP), and Eastern Nagaland Women’s Organization (ENWO).
The ENPO has been urging the Government of India to honour the aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland, as reportedly assured by union home minister Amit Shah, before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024, a commitment that the Centre has failed to fulfil so far.
It is worth mentioning that during its mass public rally on February 9, in protest against the delay in signing the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) for FNT, the ENPO had warned that it would take its own course of action if the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland were not honoured, and if the Election Model Code of Conduct was declared by the ECI without signing the MoS.