Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT): Consultations to be held after ENPO receives draft from Centre

An emergency closed-door meeting was convened by the Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Association (ENGOA) at Tourist Lodge here on Wednesday to deliberate on the issue of ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ (FNT).
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO, Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) and Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO), besides presidents of seven apex tribal bodies along with five members each.
Addressing the media after the meeting, ENLU secretary Lima Onen Chang revealed that no resolution was adopted during the meeting, but the house deliberated on the proposed draft for FNT prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Though the draft was given to the State government, he said that ENPO members were yet to formally receive it. “Once they (ENPO) receive the draft from MHA, they will invite us (ENLU) and we will hold consultation,” he added.
Chang reiterated that since ENPO had not seen the draft yet, they were not in a position to deliberate the matter.
However, Chang remarked, “it seems (the draft) to be an autonomous council in nature”. Hence, after thorough consultation, he stated that the meeting unanimously agreed not to accept the draft in principle.
He recalled that the state government had in 2011 recommend an autonomous council, which he claimed was rejected by the people of Eastern Nagaland.
Meanwhile, when contacted ENPO officials, declined to comment on Lima Onen Chang’s statement. ENPO officials said they had nothing to comment on any draft unless they receive the draft officially from MHA as assured by Union Home Minister.
It may be recalled that the ENPO, in response to the eight tribal hohos appeal to reconsider its stance and join hands with rest of the Nagas, asserted that it was neither disintegrating the Naga family, nor shying away from any common Naga issue.
ENPO clarified and appealed to the eight tribal bodies to take its stand in a positive manner, and extend their prayer and moral support.
As such, with the sole intention to keep away from any misunderstanding and apprehension, the ENPO clarified that it did not perceive any division within the family with the granting of the proposed FNT by the Centre.