In a statement today, the UNTABA has made two suggestions while stating that the meeting brought about nothing substantial for both parties to agree on but only tried to absolve the abject failure of the two governments in preventing clashes in the border areas inspite of various agreements entered between the two and the Union Home Ministry, since 1972.
The UNTABA stated that the Ralan area incident was a ticking time-bomb, aided by the Government of Assam whom it alleged ‘deliberately facilitated’ the unabated encroachment of people of questionable origins to settle in the land of Nagas in violation of agreements not to allow any encroachment. It also said the Assam Government utilised “its well-armed Assam Police and the so called ‘neutral force’ that are posted in the DAB areas” which are all under its command.
The UNTABA statement is critical of the role of successive governments of Nagaland which have remained a “silent observer all these years over the illegal actions of the Government of Assam instead of implementing the existing terms of agreements between the two States”.
The release has mooted for Commissioner level meeting or any level meetings between the law enforcing machineries of the two States to seriously consider and review the existing terms of agreements and take appropriate legal course of action against any violator and firmly put in place appropriate legal structure for preventing such incidents in future. Failing this, these exercises tantamount to nil seen by the outcome of yesterday’s meeting since it will not hold any ground in preventing such clashes in near future also, the statement added.
“Such indifferent attitude of the Nagaland Government can no longer be tolerated by the Naga people,” the UNTABA cautioned and strongly reiterated its demands made in ‘Peoples’ Dialogue’, for complete review of all the existing Interim Agreements between the two State Governments immediately in the interest of all concerned.