ENPO
Leaders from different Naga political groups and civil society leaders of eastern Nagaland reaffirming the December 18, 2007 Tuensang resolution. File Image credit - Northeast Now

The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has suspended its proposed non-participation in the ensuing Independence Day celebration.

The ENPO has taken the decision after receiving a formal invitation for talks from Union home secretary in New Delhi on August 13, media cell of the organisation said in a release on Sunday.

Also read: ENPO to pressurise Centre over separate Frontier Nagaland demand

On June 11, the ENPO at its central executive council meeting in Tuensang headquarters resolved that the public of the areas under it will abstain from participation in the Independence Day celebration.

The ENPO decided to abstain from the celebration if the government of India fails to expedite the process of carving out a separate state for the people of eastern Nagaland and respond to the demand before August 10.

The ENPO earlier resolved to uphold its Tuensang resolution of December 18, 2007 which opposes bloodshed, threat, intimidation or any form of violence within its jurisdiction.

The ENPO area consists of four districts of Nagaland – Kiphire, Longleng, Tuenseng and Mon – and there are a total of 20 seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly which is formed with 60 members.

In these areas, the inhabitant people belong to six different tribes which are Yimchungrus, Changs, Sangtams, Phoms, Konyaks and Khiamniungans.

The organization has been demanding creation of a separate state for the six tribes in the four districts of Nagaland alleging ‘step-motherly’ attitude towards them from the Nagaland government.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: [email protected]