Centre Chakhesang Youth announces non-cooperation against Forest dept

DIMAPUR, OCT 5 (NPN): Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) has announced the first phase of a non-cooperation movement against the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, citing the government’s failure to address its demands concerning the detention of Vezhoto Hesuh.
In a statement, CCYO president Dode Nakro said the seven-day ultimatum served to the Nagaland chief minister had expired without the organisation’s demands being fulfilled in toto. He said the organisation had exhausted all reasonable avenues of waiting for an appropriate response from the government and was compelled to take the step in defence of the rights, dignity, customs and traditional practices of the people.
CCYO said that from the intervening midnight of October 5 and 6, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 would be treated as “unacceptable and non-operative” within the Centre Chakhesang area. Consequently, it announced that the existing prohibition on hunting would be lifted in the area from the same time.
It also said entry of outsiders, including personnel of government agencies, into Centre Chakhesang villages would remain prohibited until further notice, adding that trespassers would be “at their own risk”.
The prohibition on photography and videography within CCYO jurisdiction would also continue to remain in force.
CCYO said the decision was a direct consequence of the government’s failure to respond to its ultimatum and address the concerns raised.
Invoking Article 371A of the Constitution, the organisation said the provision recognised and provided special constitutional protection to the distinctive identity, customary laws, social practices, traditional institutions, and land and its resources of the Naga people.
CCYO maintained that Article 371A was not merely a historical provision but represented constitutional recognition of the relationship of the Naga people with their customary institutions, traditions, land and natural resources.
It said the people could not be expected to remain silent when statutory enforcement was perceived to disregard, undermine or interfere with established Naga customary practices and traditional relationships with nature and wildlife.
The organisation stated that communities had traditionally lived in close relationship with forests, land and wildlife, and that customary practices and institutions could not simply be disregarded in the name of departmental enforcement.
CCYO further alleged that customary practices were being subjected to selective or arbitrary departmental action while the constitutional safeguards under Article 371A were not adequately recognised. It urged the government to ensure that the constitutional provision was reflected not only in principle but also in administrative practice.
The organisation reiterated that its stand arose from the continued failure to address grievances surrounding the detention of Vezhoto Hesuh and the broader issue of the treatment of Naga customary practices by the Forest Department.
It reiterated that the non-cooperation movement against the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department would commence throughout the Centre Chakhesang area from the intervening midnight of October 5 and 6.