Expressing support for the ongoing political dialogue between the NSCN (I-M) and the Government of India, the Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) has expressed the hope that a settlement was reached soon “without foreclosing the original aspiration of the Naga People.”
TPO resolved this at its presidential council meeting held on August 6, 2016 at Hotel Millennium, Kohima, said TPO president Timikha Koza and general secretary Vipopal Kintso in a press release.
Further, TPO acknowledged the pioneers and leaders of the Naga political struggles for the contributions and sacrifices towards the “aspiration of Naga People to live as a Nation.”
“TPO also take pride that the Tenyimi Community has contributed and sacrificed immensely for the Naga National movement,” the organisation said, adding that it would continue to support the cause of Naga People living together as a people. Affirming its stand on the issue of “Integration of Naga inhabited Areas”, the organisation said the Tenyimi people who shared the same ancestry and lineage have also been badly affected by the arbitrary divide, which was “imposed without the slightest consent of our people.”
“TPO as an organisation is also placed vertically divided by the so-called artificial state boundary with 5 (five) of its constituent Units in Nagaland and 5 (five) in Manipur State, besides putting a vast chunk of area and people under Assam. Hence TPO remain steadfast in the demand for the Naga people to live under one political roof,” stated the signatories.
Meanwhile, TPO condemned and opposed the continued extension of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the Naga inhabited areas. TPO said it “fully support” and stand firmly with the Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA for the “withdrawal of the draconian law in our land.”