SAPO rejects TPO’s verdict on land dispute; ban on Maos to continue

Even as the Board of Arbitrators (BoA) appointed by the Tenyimi People’s Organisation (tasked with resolving the dispute of Kezolsta and Dzükou) announced its verdict on December 19, that Kezolsta and Dzükou valley “shall be a common property of the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), Mao Council and Maram Khullen village; the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) rejected outright the decision of TPO.
SAPO in a talk with Nagaland Post said it has outrightly rejected Tenyimi People’s Organisation’s (TPO) verdict on Kezoltsa and Dzükou issue, asserting that it was not in line with the traditional way of settling disputes over land.
While rejecting the TPO verdict, SAPO has decided to continue with restricting Mao citizens from entering into its area during a meeting convened at its Jakhama headquarter on Thursday.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, SAPO president Sophie said they would continue with the ongoing restriction and actions, including regular checking on Mao community from entering Southern Angami areas, imposed from December 5, 2022. Citing Naga customs and tradition, Sophie termed the verdict by TPO as “biased” as a judge could never pronounce a disputed land into a common property.
Sophie maintained that the land belonged to the SAPO as it was their ancestral land and blamed the present situation as a creation of the Mao Council since it had got the Manipur government involved by imposing prohibitory orders along the border district. The SAPO president also urged upon Nagaland government to support Southern Angamis and ask its Manipur counterpart to maintain status quo on the situation and honour the traditional landowners.
The meeting was attended by a large crowd, including village council chairmen, GBs and Southern Angami leaders.
Kezoltsa, Dzukou to be ‘common property’ says TPO: Meanwhile, the Board Of Arbitrators (BOA) appointed by the Tenyimi Peoples’ Organization (TPO) in its judgement passed on December 19 ruled that the century old Kezoltsa/Kozürü/ Kazing forest and Dzükou/Dzüko valley “shall be a common property of the SAPO, Mao Council and Maram Khullen village.
With regard to Kezoltsa/Kozürü/ Kazing forest, the BOAsaid that the boundary demarcation for Kezoltsa/Kozürü/ Kazing forest would be– North: Viswe Kharu (Viswe gate); South East: Raku Kokobu, Tado range; South: Chicken crest (Hodzü Motu) and South West: Elephant pass.
BoA further directed that the century old forest shall be preserved and protected from exploitation or destruction. Collection of forest products, hunting or fishing would be strictly prohibited and a forest committee shall be constituted to protect and preserve the forest and the members of the committee shall be drawn from all the three parties in the present case, the ruling said.
On Dzükou/Dzüko valley to be a common property, it was also decided that as practiced from before, no restriction shall be imposed on any village(s) whoever share the ownership of the valley to enter into the valley from their respective village jurisdiction.
It however, strictly banned any form of exploitation of Dzükou/Dzüko valley and asked the owners to make an endeavor to preserve and protect the natural scenic beauty over Dzükou/Dzüko valley.
It also said that vehicular road connectivity to Dzükou/Dzüko valley shall not be permitted.
“With the above findings and observations, the forest dispute between the SAPO, Moa council and Maram Khullen village is disposed of,” BOA judgement stated, comprising of 20 members of the Arbitral tribunal representing various communities- Chakhesang, Rengma, Angami, Pochury, Zeliangrong, Mao, Poumai, Maram, Thangal and Inpui.