“No entity is above the law”: BAN response to NSCN-K (Khango) death threat

The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has unequivocally condemned the recent threat issued by the NSCN/GPRN (Khango) to the proprietor of KKB Rulho, calling it “unacceptable” in a civilized society and warranting serious scrutiny.

“The accountability of all organizations, including NSCN/GPRN (Khango), must be addressed with the same rigor applied to government activities. It is imperative that NSCN/GPRN (Khango) provides a comprehensive account of its actions over the years. Just as the government is accountable to the people, so too must every organization be held to the same standard. No entity is above the law, and transparency is essential for the public’s trust and welfare,” BAN stated in a press statement issued on 1 August.

The BAN observed that despite verbal assurances from successive governments, tangible action remains scarce. “Our state’s potential remains untapped due to poor infrastructure, insecurity, multiple taxation, and electoral malpractices. Consequently, Nagaland’s economy languishes in a state of dependency and stagnation while unemployment has risen sky-high,” BAN added.

BAN emphasized the urgency of implementing corrective measures to avoid sacrificing the future of the younger generation. “This development portrays reality of Nagaland today where there are many governments to impose tax upon its own people in one hand but no government to provide security to her agents of development in other hand,” it remarked.

“There is ceasefire between Naga armed groups and the Indian armed Forces but there is no peace at all in real sense in the minds of the people. This was not the Naga people’s dream for freedom struggle. After embroiled in freedom struggle for the last so many decades, we ourselves had become victim of that very freedom which has gripped us more sternly,” it continued.

The BAN further added that the state’s silence in the face of threats and intimidation raises serious concerns about the direction the State is heading.

“If the government fails to protect its citizens, the necessity of its existence comes into question. The dire state of our economy, one of the lowest in the country, is a direct result of these compounded issues,” added BAN.

“We must not allow any individual or organization to impose their rules upon us, leading to further poverty and misery. It is crucial for the Naga people to uphold God’s promise to WORK and EAT, ensuring the survival and prosperity of our next generation. Such Death threats will only alienate the public from their cause. We refuse to let our younger generation inherit an economy and society marred by fear and stagnation,” BAN declared.

Nagaland, with its rich Christian heritage and peace-loving populace, deserves better. “We must strive to create an environment that allows the next generation to thrive. Looking back at our history, from the head-hunting days to the struggles for independence and internal unrest, we see a legacy of sacrifice and resilience. These legacy demands that we act responsibly and ethically to ensure a brighter future for all Naga people. It is our collective duty to uphold the values of our ancestors and prevent further decline,” BAN cautioned.

BAN further called for immediate clarification from the stakeholders on the following concerns:

It asked what the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFMG/CFSB) had been  doing to address the ongoing death threats happening under their watch? “Are they in any way in connivance for these incidents?” it asked, stating, it is imperative to scrutinize the role of the ceasefire monitoring cell, especially given the numerous extortion cases occurring under their full knowledge.

The BAN further asserted that the Naga people have not given any mandate to any Naga Political Group (NPG) to issue death sentences to fellow Nagas for not meeting their illegal demands.

“The original idea of Naga Independent is to secure ourselves from imposition of Indian taxes and alien cultures and political control. It is, therefore, unthinkable that Naga political group(s) impose unbearable taxes upon the same people for whom they are claimed to be fighting for political freedom. This is in total contradiction to our political commitment and aspirations,” BAN added.

BAN expressed disappointment at the lack of tangible progress towards a Naga political settlement, noting that Naga political groups have deviated from the principles and objectives of the Naga national freedom movement. “We, as a local business community, always expect patriotic support and political leadership from our National political groups towards the growth and development of our land so that our children live a productive and peaceful lives in dignity in near future,” BAN stated.

“We, therefore, demand that the group responsible for issuance of capital punishment to the Proprietor of KKB RULHO withdraw the pronouncement and rather take a new positive path in promoting Naga businessmen and entrepreneurs as fellow partners and citizens in fighting for our Naga cause,” BAN added.

MT