Dima Hasao Concern Over Naga Supra State

Silchar, Nov 23 : Dimasa organizations in Assam's Dima Hasao district have expressed concern over the demand for a supra state body by the NSCN (IM).

Jadike Naiso Hosom (JNH), the apex body of Dimasas, said on Tuesday,"We have come to understand that Nagas have been offered a supra state body in Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. If the demand is fulfilled, parts of Dima Hasao district of Assam will also be included in the supra state body. It will only create new problems in the area and will cause a threat to people belonging to Dimasa and other non-Naga communities living here. It will have serious implications on mutual co-existence of different communities in the region," said a statement signed by JNH publicity secretary Dhoneswar Batari.

JNH urged the government not to succumb to the demand of the NSCN (IM). The Dimasa apex body also called upon the people of Assam to keep vigil along all the areas bordering Nagaland so that neither the Centre nor Nagas can indulge in any misadventure.

"Assam should not give away an inch of its land to the proposed supra state body. People of the state as well as the government must take care of it," the JNH said.

Sources said Nagas are the second largest community in Dima Hasao district after Dimasas. NSCN (IM) has been spreading a propaganda that the Centre has given them the assurance of forming a supra state body, an arrangement for cultural integrity of the Nagas living in this region, to come as a Christmas gift to Nagas.

All Dimasa Students Union (ADSU), a powerful body in Dima Hasao, has strongly reacted to the supra state body issue as well. ADSU said Dimasas should oppose the idea for the sake of the existence of the community in the region.

The students' body said Dima Hasao is already going through ethnic conflicts and there is a complicated law and order situation in the region. Therefore any decision on supra state body for Nagas will lead to a sharp and widespread public agitation.

"No one is consulted about the arrangement except the NSCN (IM). The government should bring out a white paper on the issue before going for any arrangement," the ADSU said.