Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) on Monday announced its decision to lift the restriction imposed on Mao community within its jurisdiction with effect from March 21, 2023. The restriction on Maos was imposed from the midnight of December 15, 2022.
SAPO president Er. Tepul Hopovi and general secretary Swelul Pucho said the decision was taken following the advice given by its parent body– Angami Public Organisation (APO). SAPO said that APO at an extraordinary meeting held on March 17, resolved to take over the contentious SAPO matter at hand. The meeting was attended by executive members, presidents of all frontal organisations, advisory board members and intellectuals.
SAPO said the restrictions were imposed on Mao community to protest the “unfair occupation” of Manipur government’s armed forces and imposing CrPC 144 within the heart of Kezoltsa, currently in dispute, with the “deliberate intention to construct roads and carry out other development activities, slyly.” SAPO said interference of Manipur government conniving with Mao council was “reacted in distaste as traditional lands straddle towards each other’s arbitrarily drawn political boundaries.”
According to SAPO, it never objected to Manipur government holding its “Cherry Blossom Festival”, setting up of a Manipur government school or other government funded projects and developments at Okhro Ikhro, which it said traditionally belonged to Maos “though technically is in Nagaland.” SAPO appreciated the magnanimity of Nagaland government for awarding 16 Nagaland government jobs to Mao traditional landowners at TB Hospital Khuzama, respecting traditional landowners, and other privileges extended to the community on the basis of brotherhood, in spite of Article 371(A) strictures.
Meanwhile, SAPO also met with Nagaland chief minister and expressed gratitude for his concern on the issue. SAPO reiterated that redrawing political boundary of Nagaland or Manipur was not in its agenda, but it looked forward to resolving the existing land dispute traditionally.
