Ukhrul, Jan 22: The Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR) of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has instructed village authorities to refrain from collaborating with the State or Central government in managing ‘our’ forest land or sign a Memorandum of Understanding with forest agencies.
The NSCN WTR’s directive urged the public to take due cognizance of Joint Forest Management, which initiated the Forest Department of India’s planting policy on forest/land. It also called upon all to be fully aware of its consequences in the future.
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The NSCN WTR listed several drawbacks of the policy including not addressing land ownership of the indigenous tribal people, sealing off forests for protection which prevents tribal people from using their land, and the possibility of the state government later claiming the forest as State Preserved Forest/Land.
Such an instance is presently seen in front of us where the Kuki-Meitei ethnic conflict is one, the NSCN WTR said. It added that the government did not understand that tribal and forest are interdependent and they, the tribal people, cannot survive without the forest. If forests are prevented in the name of protection, the issue of tribal survival will be challenged, it said.
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For the present meager benefits and pursuing schemes and other forest-related funds, the future of the Naga nation must not be endangered, the NSCN WTR cautioned. Consequently, all villages/village authorities must not venture with the Indian Government be it the Centre or State in managing our forest/land. No authority must sign an MOU with the said forest agency in Forest Management.
The NSCN’s body then warned that the defaulters of the notice would be viewed as sold out of Naga’s future and generations and that stringent action would be initiated without precautionary warnings.
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