Dimapur, April 16: The ACAUT Nagaland has termed the decision of the Konyak Union, encompassing all its stakeholders including the 9 Konyak elected representatives, in declaring the referendum on ‘No unity, no taxation’ at this point of Naga history “as revolutionary as the plebiscite of 1951”, after 70 years.
Stating that all Naga tribes need to chorus the clarion call of “No unity, no taxation” and publicly issue similar declaration in all the other districts.
Citing the first political declaration to the Simon Commission in 1929 where Nagas made the strongest assertion to leave the Nagas alone for self determination, the ACAUT Nagaland said today that political consciousness has become an antithesis to “our own people by our so called leaders.”
Stating that the biggest fear and dread of the Naga public is the unabated taxes by the various splinter groups that “profess the same objective without any vision”, it said the recent declaration of Naga Tribal Union, Chumoukedima on behalf of all its stakeholders reaffirming “One Government, One Tax” as the rampant taxations by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) is killing the aspirations of the people and bleeding the economy.
“This is clearly drawing the lines for public uprising against an effeminated Government that refuses to protect its law-abiding citizens,” a press release issued by Media Cell, ACAUT Nagaland stated.
The ACAUT accused the Ministry of Home Affairs of not enforcing strict ceasefire monitoring rules but unleashing a reign of unabated taxation terror on the public of Nagaland.
Stating that ACAUT has always asserted that unabated taxation is the root cause of factionalism, and factionalism the root cause of killings, it said the MHA seems to support this sinister logical conclusion by entering into ceasefire with all and sundry.
“Under Ceasefire rules any group in agreement are issued assault weapons meant for war zones to various card holders. Without adequate rations and rehabilitation in their designated camps, the villages and towns have become their poaching grounds for unabated taxation,” it further stated.
The ACAUT said that the sagacity, statesmanship and leadership of the Konyak Union has come at the nick of the time, before Nagaland sinks to a civil war because of factional clashes due to unabated taxation.
It also reminded the Naga public of the ‘One Government, One Tax’ public resolution made on 31st October 2013 and said time has come for all the citizens of Nagaland not only to say ‘enough is enough’ but to ‘walk the talk’ by bringing this prolonged ceasefire to a honourable and peaceful settlement with the GOI at the earliest. (Page News Service)
