SAPO rejects TPO’s verdict, ban on Maos continue

The SAPO clarified that it will continue the actions including regular checking to stop entry of Mao community members from entering the Southern Angami areas,

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The Southern Angami Public Organisation has rejected the decision of the Tenyimi People’s Organisation (TPO) announcing that the Kezolsta and Dzukou Valley “shall be a common property of the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), Mao Council and Maram Khullen village.”

Reports stated that the SAPO rejected the decision by stating that it is not a part with the traditional way of settling disputes over land. SAPO also maintained that it would remain steadfast on it’s decision to restrict entry of Mao citizens from entering the Southern Angami inhabited areas.

The SAPO clarified that it will continue the actions including regular checking to stop entry of Mao community members from entering the Southern Angami areas, which has been in effect since December 15.

The Board of Arbitrators (BoA) appointed by the Tenyimi People’s Organisation (tasked with resolving the dispute of Kezolsta and Dzükou) had announced its verdict on December 19.

It may be mentioned, conflict began when the Southern Anagami Public Organisation (SAPO) blamed the Mao Council and the Manipur Government of “threatening the very peaceful co-existence and security of the region by harbouring and deploying the Manipur Arms security personals, issuing 144 Cr. PC and forcefully constructing illegal roads, houses, electrification…demolition of the rest house of the South Angami People and constructing an illegal alternative route to Dzukou…”

However, Manipur Earlier, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh speaking to Northeast Live had said that the dispute is not between Nagaland and Manipur but between the villages of Mao and Southern Angami.
He said that he had already spoken to MLA of Mao constituency regarding this and expressed hope that the issues will be resolved amicably between the two communities.

The Board of Arbitration of Tenyimi People’s Court in 2016 had persuaded both parties to resolve their differences amicably by respecting each other’s customary usages and practices under Tenyimi Customary Laws and it was mutually agreed to maintain and respect the ownership and the brotherhood fraternity by maintaining status quo which had been in practice since time immemorial. Thereafter, the contested areas were handed over by the parties to the TPO and its Board of Arbitration for properly adjudicating the matter of dispute based on identifying the genuine land owners and resolving the issue in consonance with the customary usages and practices.

But the SAPO alleged that the Mao Council with the help of the Manipur government breached the understanding and broke the trust.

Notably, the SAPO’ decision was followed by an arson incident wherein a Manipur bound truck was set ablaze by miscreants at Vishuma under Khuzhama police station in Nagaland on the night of December 17. It has been suspected that the incident is an ‘outcome of the ban’ imposed by the Southern Angami Public Organisation on members of Mao community.

Meanwhile, at least 55 students of Mao community, who were stranded in Dimapur following the restrictions, were brought back by a special flight to Manipur on December 20.

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