Naga trade bodies appeal Assam citizens to lift economic blockade in Upper Assam

MOKOKCHUNG: Business communities of the Nagaland districts affected by the economic blockade called by Assam organizations by restricting the movement of vehicles along the National Highway 702D at Mariani under Jorhat district of Assam have urged the neighbouring state to life the blockade, reportedly called due to alleged Naga incursions on Assamese soil. The Business Communities of Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Longleng, Mon, and Kiphire districts of Nagaland jointly

In a release undersigned by the Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the affected districts, it was stated that the Assam based organizations imposing the economic blockade at Mariani "fails to comprehend the reality of the situation". The Naga business communities added that the state of Assam faces "afflicting border disputes with all of its neighbouring states."

"Inter-state border disputes are political in nature, which in the Assam-Nagaland case is exacerbated by historical wrongs, and they can never be resolved by economic blockades imposed by rogue elements," the bodies added.

The communique further stated that the economic blockades will only strain the age old ties between the people of the two neighbouring states thereby making it impossible to make room for any meaningful discourse to resolve the contentious border issue.

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The Naga trade bodies have asserted that they will find "alternative means of doing business by looking beyond Jorhat and upper Assam."

Forceful obstruction of National Highways and restricting movement of essential commodities are not only illegal but are also flagrant violations of human rights, the note added.

The bodies in the statement wrote that while the ongoing economic blockade is undeniably causing much inconvenience to the affected Nagaland districts, it is rather damning for the economy and the business community of upper Assam.

"The economic blockade is not going to starve us to death, let alone make us submit to the whims of a few anti-social elements marauding like goons at Mariani, Assam," the Nagaland traders wrote.

"We earnestly appeal to the conscience of the peaceful and right thinking citizens of Assam, the government of Assam, the authorities at Jorhat and the business community of upper Assam to intervene and persuade those responsible for this pathetic drama to lift the economic blockade," they added.

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