Let me congratulate Mr. Katovi of 4th Mile, Dimapur for his letter “Where do you stand?” published in your esteemed paper on July 13, 2011. I would say his letter represents the cry of all suffering people in Nagaland as a result of illegal taxation by all factions. This is not taxation but it amounts to extortion and exploitation. Even the poor and needy including the daily wage earners are not spared. The prices of all sorts of commodities and materials have been rapidly rising owing to menace of extortion. Some may think that only the rich are affected; but truly speaking, it hits the poor the most.
In the midst of hardship and struggle for survival, the poor become poorer because of exorbitant prices of everything related to extortion. This is a moral and ethical question. Do you care for the poor and needy? Are you concerned about the welfare of the marginalized? Is it not a crime to oppress and exploit the poor? They are suffering and crying. Their cries will not go in vain. Sooner or later, it will invoke God’s curse upon the perpetrators unless they repent from their wicked ways.
Naga political movement is a people movement. It belongs to the people and no group should have monopoly over our basic right to self- determination. If Nagas are united and have one voice, we can achieve anything we want. Guns, factions and cursed money will never achieve anything except prolonging sorrow and misery. I say ‘cursed money’ because all who part their money against their wishes utter a curse silently in their hearts. How can one enjoys a blessed life with cursed and corrupt money? Don’t they realize that their end will be utterly terrible and tragic?
Factionalism is thriving not because of differences in political ideology but basically for the lust of power and money. If all the factions stop ‘taxation’ for a few years, I believe that within a short time, all bogus elements too will stop. This will be the acid test of the genuineness of the Naga patriots. Well, even if the factions refuse to ban the ‘taxation,’ there still is a powerful option available. That is, the solidarity of the general public. If only the general public can come out boldly and together fight against this menace of oppression, the devil will flee. It is high time we rise up get rid of this vicious crime that has plagued our society for too long.
Huzo Meru, Chairman,
NBCC Peace Committee.
In the midst of hardship and struggle for survival, the poor become poorer because of exorbitant prices of everything related to extortion. This is a moral and ethical question. Do you care for the poor and needy? Are you concerned about the welfare of the marginalized? Is it not a crime to oppress and exploit the poor? They are suffering and crying. Their cries will not go in vain. Sooner or later, it will invoke God’s curse upon the perpetrators unless they repent from their wicked ways.
Naga political movement is a people movement. It belongs to the people and no group should have monopoly over our basic right to self- determination. If Nagas are united and have one voice, we can achieve anything we want. Guns, factions and cursed money will never achieve anything except prolonging sorrow and misery. I say ‘cursed money’ because all who part their money against their wishes utter a curse silently in their hearts. How can one enjoys a blessed life with cursed and corrupt money? Don’t they realize that their end will be utterly terrible and tragic?
Factionalism is thriving not because of differences in political ideology but basically for the lust of power and money. If all the factions stop ‘taxation’ for a few years, I believe that within a short time, all bogus elements too will stop. This will be the acid test of the genuineness of the Naga patriots. Well, even if the factions refuse to ban the ‘taxation,’ there still is a powerful option available. That is, the solidarity of the general public. If only the general public can come out boldly and together fight against this menace of oppression, the devil will flee. It is high time we rise up get rid of this vicious crime that has plagued our society for too long.
Huzo Meru, Chairman,
NBCC Peace Committee.
