Chuyo Students’ Union, Dimapur (CSUD) has strongly condemned the abduction of Chopkhu Gangsa and Chijgsan Wangham, headman and GB respectively of Chop village in Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh on November 28 allegedly by cadres of Angmai faction of NSCN (K) over non-payment of money.
In a press note, CSUD through its media and publicity also condemned the outfit for allegedly demanding more than Rs 50 lakh as ransom for the release of the duo. The union stressed that such barbaric act should not be carried out in the near future by any Naga political group, because there were ways to solve difference among Naga brothers on the table, not on immoral ground.
CSUD also called upon the NSCN (K) Angmai faction to release the duo immediately without harm since their family members were waiting for them to celebrate Christmas together. It reiterated that Nagas were all Christians and working on Nagaland for Christ, adding that a Christian must follow Christian ethics and love one another in His name.
Pointing out that Chuyo Centre (village tract or Chuyo sub-division of Donghi township, Sagaing region) was located in north-western part of Myanmar that was called Eastern Nagaland, the union declared that the sealing of the international border would continue due to the prevailing situation at Chop village and until the two villagers were released. Hence, it stressed that the Angmai faction should release the villagers when it had nothing to do with civilians lives.
According to the union, residents of Chuyos were finding it difficult due to shortage of commodities as the blockade was now on for almost a month. It claimed that the border restriction had prevented students from going home for vacations through Chop village because the Assam Rifles had sealed the road.
It mentioned that the students would also find it difficult to resume their studies after the vacation was over since the road blockade was on.
CSUD termed the kidnapping as a betrayal, an impertinent challenge to human civilisation and a threat to humanity at a time when all the Nagas were sanguinely craving for peace, tranquillity and commitment to moral principles.
Pointing out that abduction of civilians violated human rights, integrity and dignity of Naga national movement, the union also drew the attention of the Eastern Nagas and insisted that the civil society organisations (CSOs) should thoroughly probe the incident and deliver justice to the effected families at the earliest.
The union further appealed the 44 Battalion of Assam Rifles to withdraw the border blockade as soon as possible for betterment of students/civilians, adding that it was also not happy with latter over the recent incident were students and people were sent back to Dimapur who had spent a huge amount of money for hiring vehicle from Dimapur to Chop.
The union also urged both the NSCN (K-YA) and NSCN (K-Angmai) to refrain from chasing one after another in Chuyo area, stressing that they should not fire a single bullet in the area if they considered themselves freedom fighters.
Meanwhile, the CSUD also strongly condemned the killing of Yumsen Matey, former MLA of Khonsa West Constituency in Arunachal Pradesh, on December 16 by suspected militants. He was allegedly abducted from a function at Raho village in Lazu circle before being killed.
Matey was a Congress legislator from Khonsa West in Tirap district, before joining the BJP in 2015.
The union conveyed its heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the bereaved family, and prayed for speedy delivery of justice to the victim’s family.