Al Ngullie: This event occurred a few days ago. My mother's superiors summoned her to the departmental headquarters to clear an unspecified "official work" concerning her salary.
My mother had taken ill the other day – age and failing health – when the urgent notice from her department came. Left with no option considering the perceived requirement that she must personally attend to the "official work," my mother left for Kohima the very next day.
Ill, weak and dizzy from the medication, she arrived in Kohima - only to be told by her superiors that the underground groups were deducting as "Tax" a percentage from the employees' salaries again. And hers was Rs. 2, 700 "Tax" in total for the specified number of groups.
In effect, my ailing mother paid Rs. 220 for the taxi service to travel to a place 84 kilometers away uphill just to listen to someone inform her that she – as with her colleagues too – had just been 'taxed' Rs. 2, 700 by the unspecified number of underground groups. Every time, it is so.
Did I mention that ‘Tax’ is a strictly legal and statutory levy for services and ennoblement provided to citizens – Healthcare, policing, Justice, education, labor benefits, public transportation, farming and on – that the private sector cannot?
So what services are we receiving from the undergrounds that almost every aspect of our lives suffer ‘taxes’ when not even the Governments of Nagaland and India tax us except for utility taxes such as water and electricity?
For many a bitter decade, we have yet to recall a single occasion we have never being 'taxed' – home, house, salary, workplace, income, business, education, health, occupation – in almost anything and everything.
Should we apologize for feeling wounded, bitter and quietly allowing this vile bitterness to breed inside us for all our lives? Of course not. No, at least not for the many hundred thousands who still gnash their teeth, writhing in rage and unspoken misery for the right time of redemption to show up.
Yes, I admit, that sometimes amidst bottled up anger and for so long, saying anything even so much as 'God will judge' seems so hard. But yes, God will judge.
Chumbemo Patton: This month my dad and his departmental colleagues were taxed Rs.7600 only! Hah! An amount enough to support the future of some of their children studying outside. Some of these shameless creatures once even demanded 17-24% from the pay. Of all the department employees. An about to retire L.D.A. with tears in his eyes shouted "Why only this much, we are working equal and you're looking after my family real good. Demand for 50% instead."Shamelessness at its peak! "We The young at mind, heart, body and soul are the future of tomorrow. And I wonder what kind of seeds they(Undergrounds) are sowing in us!"
"As You Sow So Shall You Reap"
Vikeduo Linyü: Let me add something here I grew up in kohima just near kohima peace camp. And during my childhood we go and hang out in their camps, for us to be freedom fighters it was the ultimate, even thought of quitting school and joining the movement . Admired them and thought one day I will also be one of them as a kid. Forward to present day, sorry Tax, extortion fractional killing have killed my very spirit and as I mature day by day my dream of Ura Uvie is diminishing .
I have cited this example before in the blog, but let me say it again in Kohima a Zeliang UG Major from peace camp comes to my mom's place and earns by cutting firewood. Infact he works around the neighbourhood and earns money, another guy sells dry chilly and earns his living. Some of them weaves basket and sell it around Kohima village. Some of the younger soldiers earns helping in construction of retaining wall or as hajiras in paddy field etc. I know Kohima peace camp is also getting infected with extortionist but that was the culture and tradition they maintain when I last check.
I hope Kehoi, Hebron and Athingbung campers also learn to do the same. If freedom is what they believe in. Blood sweat and tears is not earned by extortion but by winning the heart of the people, which they have failed miserably.
Caulang Meru: And do you know how and why our struggle for freedom/self-rule initially started?
It's irönic that Haipou Jadonang, the first Naga freedom fighter revolted against the British Raj because he was irked by the white people levying taxes on the Naga villages.
What a price to pay for the big word 'freedom'. We are now taxed by the so called freedom fighters themselves. At least the Britishers did us some good by opening up our remote life to the world with their religion and education etc but our own freedom fighters only brought us insecurity and instability in our systems.
Manhei Nyahkai: Al, I understand your situation because, just today my mom was also complaining of taxes being levied from all the factions. How on earth I wonder are we supposed to survive with the meager source of income from day to day. I have seen children been compelled to seek admission in schools with lower fees due to taxes being levied. I do not see any positive outcome on account the factions collection of taxes, rather I see the very people who sustain the UGs being trampled upon and tortured in the name of freedom. The same guns and bullets bought through our hard-earned money are being used to eliminate each other. I recall years back some UG guys stopped my vehicle and demanded tax for the vehicle. I was then a secretary in a subdivision students' body. I refused to the demand and asked them that I work for the benefit of the students and the community as a whole and why they should collect tax from when I have no source of income. I stood my ground and they let me go. One day we will all have to stand firm on our grounds if the collection of taxes continue without regards to the earnings we make. None of us will protest that we will not contribute our share of responsibility to our cause of sovereignty but there has to be a limit and the common mans' interest should also be taken into account.
