Kohima: Thousands of people from all sections of society showed up to express support and solidarity with the campaign against unabated taxations in Dimapur, spearheaded by Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) on Thursday at the Public Awareness Rally held at the Clock Tower junction at Dimapur town.
ACAUT co-Convener Joel Nillo gave an account on the formation of ACAUT and subsequent activities including appeals to the State Government and Naga Political Groups (NPGs) over ‘unabated taxations’ but which came to naught.
Nillo stressed on the importance of ‘economic sovereignty’ since Nagas were no longer in control of the economy.
He said unless syndicates and dealership systems were done away, no local entrepreneur could sell even broiler chicken without paying tax.
Retired bureaucrat K Khekiye Sema, fired up the gathering with his hard-hitting speech which he began with a quote by Edmund Burke: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’.
He reiterated that public had not gathered to confront with any faction but to reason with them. He described factions and the state government as- ‘one takes with guns, the other, with pens for supply and work orders’.
He said Chief Minister might warn all Government servants to be ‘corruption less’ but Khekiye said it should begin from CMO down to the peon. Khekiye asked the Government of Nagaland to hear that people want ‘ a clean administration’.
He rued that public was paying tax to eight Naga national groups (undergrounds) and state Government.
Stating that taxes were collected everywhere in everything and anything, Khekiye asserted that public was ready to pay tax only when it was legal and to one government.
He said if tribal hohos in other districts had the sense of responsibility, why could they not set up ACAUT in their district to allow ‘this voice to grow?’
Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) President Thepfulhouvi Solo, in his brief speech, said he had not come to talk politics and was loudly cheered when he said that Nagas would not pay tax ‘ if collected by guns’.
He said no nation ever collected tax through guns but through the pen adding ‘ the pen is mightier than the gun’. He said if guns were meant to be used in battlefields against enemies, why were they used against brothers or to threaten youth, women and children and to extort money? He said national workers, organizations and DMC did not commit mistakes knowingly, but only unknowingly. He therefore advised ACAUT not to commit ‘mistakes unknowingly’ and to remain focused on its objectives and not to mingle in politics.
Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) President T Bangerloba welcomed the speakers and also lauded people who turned up to make it the ‘biggest rally ever’ in the venue.
Bangerloba asserted that the objective of ACAUT was to streamline rules and procedures for taxation and exuded confidence that the movement would one day achieve its goal.
Representing Naga Mothers Association, Rosemary Dzüvichu said women and mothers were the most affected by unabated taxation. She also disclosed that NMA members put forth their views at a meeting the NSCN (I-M) in Hebron with regard to the ACAUT issue.
She emphasised that there should be freedom of expression, thought and action and ‘ no unwarranted threats and no more bloodshed’.
Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) president Kezhokhoto Savi blamed the State Government for failing to tackle illegal taxation that led to price rise. Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) vice-president Sashi Naga said Nagaland was becoming a land of ‘no laws’ and expressed support for any initiatives launched for the welfare of the people.
Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) general secretary Esther Rhakho and Naga Blog member Yanpvuo Kikon and others. (UNI)
