United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) Sunday argued that any likely verdict of Supreme Court on arbitration of inter-State boundary between Nagaland and Assam would not be acceptable to the Naga people, as the boundary issue and Naga political issue are “interlinked” and that one cannot be settled setting aside the other.
In a press release, UNTABA chairman Hukavi T. Yeputhomi and general secretary, Imsumongba Pongen said any likely order of Supreme Court on the basis of litigation filed by erstwhile AGP government in Assam cannot be accepted because arbitration for determination on inter-state boundary between the states was unconstitutional as per the Articles 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India. It argued that only Parliament can undertake such power which was also clearly defined in point 12 & 13 of the ‘16 Points Agreement’. Further, UNTABA said that Naga people strongly believe on the political wisdom of negotiation based on the historical basis of accepting the facts of history when it comes to the determination of Nagaland.
Meanwhile, UNTABA informed that it would be conducting “Naga Peoples” Dialogue – II on the Land and Boundary issue between Nagaland and Assam in later part of June or first week of July 2016.