Mannen asks village chiefs to uphold customary laws

Kohima, Sep 15 (UNI) Nagaland Commissioner T N Mannen has urged the Gaon Burahs (GBs) and Dobhashis (DBs) to uphold the Naga customary laws and practices, advocating that even the Constitution provides for safeguard of Naga customary practices.

Addressing a joint forum of the GBs and DBs here yesterday, Mr Mannen lamented that the younger generation had failed to fully understand the great tradition of obeying their elders.

He said it was their duty to correct the young minds as all Nagas desired peaceful coexistence and the age-old tradition should be maintained for a systemic society.

''People are perplexed whether Nagas were fighting for factional freedom or Naga freedom. We do not oppose any struggle for a noble cause but we are against Nagas killing Nagas,'' he said and added that unless the Naga people were united, the vision sought by every Naga could not be achieved.

He appealed to the forum to translate its June 6 declaration of ceasefire for the various underground groups.

UNI