TMB Report
Imphal: The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) has lifted the restriction imposed on
Mao Community from entering Nagaland. SAPO General Secretary Swelul Pucho in a release said that the organisation lifted the ban following the advice given by its parent body, the Angami Public Organisation (APO).
It sais that during an APO Extra-ordinary Meeting’ held on March 17,2023, with its executive members, presidents of all frontal organisations, advisory board members and intellectuals, Angami Public Organisation (APO) resolved to take over the contentious SAPO matter at hand.
It may be recalled that SAPO had imposed Restrictions on the Mao Community, within its jurisdiction, to protest the unfair occupation of Manipur Government’s Armed Forces and imposing CrPC 144 within the heart of Kezoltsa which is currently in dispute, with the deliberate intention to construct roads and carry out other development activities, slyly. The restriction on Maos was imposed from midnight of December 15, 2022 till March 20, 2023. The interference of Manipur Government, conniving with Mao Council, was reacted in distaste as traditional lands straddle towards each other’s arbitrarily drawn political boundaries.
For the record, SAPO never objected to Manipur Government holding its Cherry Blossom Festival, establishment of a Manipur Government School or other Manipur Government funded projects and developments carried out at Okhro Ikhro which traditionally belongs to Maos, though technically is in
Nagaland. The magnanimity of Government of Nagaland is also appreciated as evident from awarding 16 Nagaland Government jobs to Mao traditional landowners at T. B. Hospital Khuzama, Nagaland, respecting traditional landowners, and other privileges extended to the community on the basis of brotherhood, inspite of Article 371(A) strictures. It looks forward to resolving the existing land dispute traditionally, it said.
SAPO functionaries also met with the Chief Minister of Nagaland, and are grateful for his concern
in the issue. SAPO reiterated that redrawing political boundary of Nagaland or Manipur is not in its
agenda.
