June 8th, 2024: The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) has asserted that its decision to abstain from the upcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections is an exercise of its democratic right to free speech and assembly under the constitution. This statement comes in response to a show cause notice issued by the State Election Commission.
ENPO clarified that its actions and statements are not intended to infringe upon the individual rights of the electorate or to contravene any legal or constitutional provisions governing the conduct of elections. The organization’s stance is deeply rooted in its demand for the creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).
Reiterating that the decision to vote or abstain is a personal one, ENPO emphasized that its public declarations aim to inform and encourage a collective expression of its aspirations for FNT without imposing any undue influence on individual voters. ENPO stated that it does not have any mechanism to enforce its resolutions or orders and operates solely on the basis of voluntary participation and consensus among the people of Eastern Nagaland.
The resolutions and statements issued by ENPO reflect the genuine and uncoerced consensus of the Eastern Naga people. The organization underscored its commitment to fostering a participatory and inclusive approach to address the community’s concerns and aspirations.
