ENSF four district ‘shutdown’ begins; prevents VVIPs’ entry

Photo: Mon and (inset) Kiphire town wears a deserted look after total shutdown enforced by the ENSF in four districts on Wednesday.

Eastern Naga Students’ Federations (ENSF) strictly enforced its ‘indefinite bandh’ in all four districts Wednesday which prevented four VVIPs from traveling to the district headquarters to unfurl the national tricolor at the Republic Day celebrations Thursday.  The four VVIPs included  NLA speaker Keyaneilie Peseyie, forest minister M.C. Konyak, agriculture minister Dr. Chumben Murry and  parliamentary secretary P. Dako Phom, who were scheduled to unfurl the national flag at Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon and Longleng respectively. Home Commissioner J. Alam in a communiqué  said the state government had assured ENSF that it would look into grievances by addressing issues raised by the students. However, since the ENSF informed DC Tuensang that it had decided to go ahead with its agitation despite the state government’s assurance, the four VIPs returned back to Kohima after being made to wait for several hours. All the district headquarters of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng wore a deserted look as offices, shops, bank and other establishments were closed, except offices of the DCs which functioned with skeleton staff Even vehicles went off road.  It may be recalled that the ENSF had issued a five-point charter of demand but owing to the state government’s alleged failure to meet them, it decided to  call for an indefinite shutdown beginning Wednesday. According to KSU president, Methna, in Mon district alone,  of the 284 teachers post approved by the project approval board (PAB), (112 Graduate teachers, 124 Under Graduate Teachers under SSA and 48 Teachers post under RMSA) the concerned department had advertised only 256 posts, with a shortage of 28 posts as approved by PAB. ENSF vice president Likhumse Sangtam talking to Nagaland Post from Kiphire over the phone said, unless and until the five-point charter of demand which was accepted in person by chief secretary was being re-advertised and the required posts was given to the Eastern Nagas, ENSF would not call off the indefinite ‘shutdown’. ENSF said it would call off the agitation only after the demand was fulfilled and a copy of the advertisement “officially” reaches its office. Further, ENSF has directed its six federating units to effectively carry out the indefinite shutdown till further notice was issued from ENSF. The federation also cautioned that if law and order situation arose during the indefinite agitation, the government would be held responsible since its inaction had led the ENSF to take up drastic steps. However, the first day of the shutdown passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents till filing of this report. Edn minister appeals to ENSF State education minister Nyeiwang Konyak Wednesday requested the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) to withdraw its plan of “non-cooperation” with the government programmes, assuring that government would restore all teacher posts that had been transferred out of eastern Nagaland. In a letter to ENSF, the education minister also invited the federation for a meeting at Kohima to discuss the issue. He also asked them to bring the list/details of the posts transferred out of eastern Nagaland areas in the past along with the list of schools where there were shortage of teachers and whatever details available. “In view of the above assurance and invitation, you are hereby requested to withdraw your plan of non-cooperation with the government programmes, including the coming Republic Day functions,” said Nyeiwang Konyak in the letter. ENSF rejects govt. plea Eastern Nagaland Students Federation (ENSF) Wednesday rejected the state government’s call for a meeting. Speaking to Nagaland Post, ENSF general secretary Changsang Soted, said state government has called the federation to discuss the ongoing issue, however, he said there was nothing to be discussed “unnecessarily”. “We are just asking the government to implement our demands for the teachers recruitment which was already issued in a written notification by the state chief secretary on August 14, 2011, to revert back around 1500-1600 posts,” he said. The federation warned that it would initiate more severe phase of agitation if demands were not implemented. Against the backdrop of government failures to implement its demand, the ENSF Wednesday launched its second phase of indefinite “closure/shutdown” in all the four district of eastern Nagaland. All the government offices and government vehicles across eastern Nagaland remained closed. ENSF general secretary Changsang Soted said the federation was not demanding “something new”. “All we are demanding is that the government show some sign of implementing what they have assured earlier,” he said. On the request of Educaion Minister for a meeting, Changsang said “we have nothing more to discuss. All we want is that government implement notification as assured.” He also confirmed that the shutdown would continue January 28, 2012. ENSF vice president Likhumse Sangtam, talking to Nagaland Post over phone, said “no positive response” from government’s part was made regarding the five-point carter of demand. However, Sangtam said a letter issued by education minister calling for a meeting was received Wednesday, and described it as “not satisfying.” “Even if the government calls us we will not respond to it because we are fed up with the government’s attitude and holding the same meeting again and again over the same issue,” Likhumse said. Until the five-point charter of demand, which was accepted by chief secretary, was re-advertised and the required posts given to the Eastern Nagas, the ENSF said it would not call off the indefinite shutdown.