The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has urged upon all concern to de-escalate the tension over the land dispute between Mao community in Manipur and the Southern Angamis of Nagaland.
Earlier, the Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) and Angami Youth Organization(AYO) had issued a statement, injuncting Mao citizens residing within the Angami jurisdiction to return to their respective native villages with an ultimatum on or before March 17. In this regard, ANSAM appealed to SAPO and AYO to reconsider their decision in good spirit and take back the ultimatum served towards the Mao citizens in the spirit of brotherhood so as to prevent any untoward incidents within the Naga families.
ANSAM also appealed to the Mao Council to initiate necessary process for resolving the issue in good faith. It appealed to both the communities to maintain restrain and foster peace in the interest of the student community who are preparing for upcoming examinations and to uphold peace and tranquility in the best interest of the generations to come, and for unity of the Nagas at large.
ANSAM urged all concerned to deescalate the tension and pave the way for resolving the issue in a peaceful manner and do recourse the traditional method of dispute resolution peacefully in the spirit of fraternity.
It is pertinent to mention that Manipur has become the site for violent internecine conflict affecting the normal livelihood of the entire communities including the Nagas in the state of Manipur, directly or indirectly due to the ongoing violence between the two warring communities, ANSAM stated.
Moreover, this season of March, April, May is a time to foster the students preparation for high school examination, higher secondary examination, college examination and other competitive examinations, it added.
Considering the various socio-political upheavals of the Nagas and concerning the common goal to bring cohesion, socio-cultural harmony and peaceful co-existence within the Naga family, unitedly as one family, ANSAM further prayed and humbly appealed to both the communities to exercise restraint until its peaceful solution is arrived.
