Mokokchung, June 12 (MExN): A group of ministers headed by Home Minister G. Kaito Aye arrived in Mokokchung today and held a closed door meeting with the Ao Senden at the DC’s Conference Hall. Minister for Roads & Bridges, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, Planning Minister, TR Zeliang and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Chingwang Konyak accompanied the Home Minister.
Ao Senden officials disclosed that the Nagaland Government has “verbally assured” to meet its demands. However, the Ao Senden, which wanted a written assurance could not get one since the helicopter that ferried the ministers to Mokokchung was running late; the ministers had to leave for Kohima. Nonetheless, they promised to fax the ‘written assurance’ to the Ao Senden through the Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung.
Ao Senden President Dr. Sangyu Yaden disclosed that the visiting ministers expressed that the government was ‘serious’ about the issue. A copy of the brief provided to the group of ministers summarizing the various demands of the Ao Senden, appended by Chief Secretary, Alemtemshi Jamir, was made available to The Morung Express. Of the five original demands of the Ao Senden, the brief stated that the ‘foothill road is a common goal of the government of Nagaland and the Ao Senden and several assurances have been given in this regard, the last one being the joint resolution signed by the Chief Secretary with the Ao Senden representatives on the 10th of June 2013’.
It also stated that police force has been deployed in the affected areas especially at Saring village and that the EAC Longchem has been posted. About the Senden’s demand for village guards, the government assured that “Village Guards for the border villages is under consideration”.
However, with regard to the Senden’s demand for action against Assam MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, the Nagaland government expressed “difficulty” since the place of occurrence (of May 24 incident) is in Mariani and the exact nature of Kurmi’s misdemeanor is difficult to ascertain. “Therefore, there is a problem regarding the lodging of FIR and taking up police action by Nagaland Government,” the brief disclosed. However, it stated that the “manner in which the protest etc can be lodged by the Nagaland Government could be worked out as per the discussion held with the Ao Senden as to what they want the state government to do”.
Meanwhile, the road blockade on the Mariani and Amguri roads entered its sixteenth day today. The Ao Senden held an emergency meeting today and ‘empowered’ the Presidential Council to take a decision on the road blockade. The Ao Senden Presidential Council has called a meeting tomorrow to decide on the next course of action.
