Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation (NZPO) president Kevipele Iheilung has announced withdrawal of his signature from the “Judgement and Order of TPO Presidential Council on the Land (Forest) Dispute at Kezoltsa/Kozuru/Kozing”.
In a letter to Tenyimi People’s Organisation (TPO) president, Iheilung acknowledged that he had received invitations from the former to attend few meetings of Tenyimi 10 tribes, where he had often stated his position very clearly that these meetings should have been attended by the president of Zeliangrong Baudi (Manipur, Assam & Nagaland) as he only represented Zeliang people of Nagaland.
He said he had participated in the meetings enthusiastically for the sake of peaceful coexistence of the Tenyimi people and not otherwise, clarifying that he had no detailed knowledge of the topography of the disputed area.
He stated that he had attended the meetings under the impression that the “position paper” was submitted only by the Mao Council, SAPO and Maram Khullen. However, he claimed it was only after the judgement was pronounced and his signature appended that he came to know Ze/Yangkhullen villagers had also submitted their claim within the demarcated area some years back and had even met the TPO president personally and briefed about their claim, whereas Ze/Yangkhullen village issue was silent in the meetings.
Hence, the NZPO president said he was withdrawing his signature from the judgement and order of TPO Presidential Council on Land (Forest) dispute at Kezoltsa/Kozuru/Kozing of July 12, 24, as he could not sacrifice the interests and rights of the Zeliangrong people due to his ignorance and innocence in this regard.
TPO presidential council, representing Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam, on Friday issued a judgment resolving the 30-year-long Kezoltsa forest dispute. The judgment mandated strict adherence to the arbitration undertaking signed on November 28, 2017, by the three contesting parties: SAPO, MC and Maram Khullen village.