Dimapur : The president of the Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC), Khiapong Tikhir, has drawn the attention of all Naga National leaders and other right-thinking Naga citizens, including NGOs, especially the apex bodies of the State, churches, intellectuals, political leaders and government administration, for “immediate and indispensable action” to be taken against the Yimchunger tribe/region involved in the closedown/lockup of the Tikhir Baptist Church at Shamatore town in Tuensang District on the eve of Christmas last year. This action, the TTC claimed, was without any valid circumstances, and led by the Yimchunger Tribal Council (YTC).
A press note issued by the TTC claimed that on the evening of December 24, 2008, when the “Tikhir Christians” were gathered in the church and were about to begin Christmas programme, “armed cadres of joint faction which belongs to Yimchunger tribe/region under the directive of YTC had surrounded the church campus, and the church leaders along with the elders were called out of the church and started threatening to kill/eliminate them if they failed to lock /close down the church for circumstance not known.” Some rounds of ammunition were also fired on the spot,” it was informed. “The YTC stated that so far Tikhir tribe is unrecognized and therefore, such unrecognized tribe has no such right to propagate, practice and worship any religions,” the press note from the TTC president stated.
It was further disclosed that on December 24 evening, the church leaders along with elders were taken to some place and after thorough interrogation forced to join under the platform of YTC and YBBA. The TTC alleged that armed cadres who belong to the Yimchunger tribe/regions were stationed at Shamator town ADC HQ, and were carrying out anti-Naga national activities under the hand of YTC. “Whereas for the arm cadres Shamatore town has become their permeate place,” they stated.
Lamenting that throughout the world when Christians were commemorating Christmas by sharing the message of the love of God, the Tikhir Christians residing at Shamator town could not observe the same due to the mentioned incidents. “Instead of sharing the joy and the peace on the eve of His coming for the redemption of the people of this world we had to observe Christmas shedding with tears under the barrel of gun instead of shedding tears beneath of the cross,” the TTC lamented. It went on to allege that the YTC had taken the law into their hands which is totally against the Indian constitutional law of freedom of religion under Article 25 and that this was dehumanising based on anti-Christ elements where no Christian can tolerate such practices.
The TTC went on to allege that armed cadres of the Yimchunger tribe/region were executing double-standards and that it wanted to know in detail from all the Naga national leaders whether armed cadres belonging to Yimchunger tribe have been appointed/recruited for the Naga political aspiration or for tribal politics. If so, they noted, then the rest of Naga armed cadres will also play for the same.
The TTC has asked that all the Naga factional leaders immediately investigate those armed cadres who were involved in the incident and award stern action without any delay. Unless the culprits are found and awarded punishment, the TTC cautioned, it would cease all form of cooperation towards all the Naga factions.
“The TTC will leave no stone unturned but will initiate their own course of action to any armed cadres involved in the incident and hence recurrences from any faction shall not be given to TTC in any manner,” it warned. In addition, the TTC has called upon all right-thinking Naga citizens, and especially the apex body of the State such as churches, intellectuals, political leaders and the government administration to openly intervene without any hesitation in order to deliver justice.
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Source: http://www.morungexpress.com/local/tribal_council_alleges_lock-up_of_church.html
A press note issued by the TTC claimed that on the evening of December 24, 2008, when the “Tikhir Christians” were gathered in the church and were about to begin Christmas programme, “armed cadres of joint faction which belongs to Yimchunger tribe/region under the directive of YTC had surrounded the church campus, and the church leaders along with the elders were called out of the church and started threatening to kill/eliminate them if they failed to lock /close down the church for circumstance not known.” Some rounds of ammunition were also fired on the spot,” it was informed. “The YTC stated that so far Tikhir tribe is unrecognized and therefore, such unrecognized tribe has no such right to propagate, practice and worship any religions,” the press note from the TTC president stated.
It was further disclosed that on December 24 evening, the church leaders along with elders were taken to some place and after thorough interrogation forced to join under the platform of YTC and YBBA. The TTC alleged that armed cadres who belong to the Yimchunger tribe/regions were stationed at Shamator town ADC HQ, and were carrying out anti-Naga national activities under the hand of YTC. “Whereas for the arm cadres Shamatore town has become their permeate place,” they stated.
Lamenting that throughout the world when Christians were commemorating Christmas by sharing the message of the love of God, the Tikhir Christians residing at Shamator town could not observe the same due to the mentioned incidents. “Instead of sharing the joy and the peace on the eve of His coming for the redemption of the people of this world we had to observe Christmas shedding with tears under the barrel of gun instead of shedding tears beneath of the cross,” the TTC lamented. It went on to allege that the YTC had taken the law into their hands which is totally against the Indian constitutional law of freedom of religion under Article 25 and that this was dehumanising based on anti-Christ elements where no Christian can tolerate such practices.
The TTC went on to allege that armed cadres of the Yimchunger tribe/region were executing double-standards and that it wanted to know in detail from all the Naga national leaders whether armed cadres belonging to Yimchunger tribe have been appointed/recruited for the Naga political aspiration or for tribal politics. If so, they noted, then the rest of Naga armed cadres will also play for the same.
The TTC has asked that all the Naga factional leaders immediately investigate those armed cadres who were involved in the incident and award stern action without any delay. Unless the culprits are found and awarded punishment, the TTC cautioned, it would cease all form of cooperation towards all the Naga factions.
“The TTC will leave no stone unturned but will initiate their own course of action to any armed cadres involved in the incident and hence recurrences from any faction shall not be given to TTC in any manner,” it warned. In addition, the TTC has called upon all right-thinking Naga citizens, and especially the apex body of the State such as churches, intellectuals, political leaders and the government administration to openly intervene without any hesitation in order to deliver justice.
Source: http://www.morungexpress.com/local/tribal_council_alleges_lock-up_of_church.html
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