I. Recognition of Indigenous Status of RongmeiTribe:
Consequent upon the disassociation of three Naga Tribes, namely Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho from Naga Hoho on the issue of granting of Indigenous Naga Tribe status to Rongmei Community by the Government of Nagaland, the Federal Assembly of Naga Hoho held on 28.09.2016 resolved to clarify its position as follows:
(a) On being approached by the Government of Nagaland seeking the opinion of the Naga Hoho on the above matter vide its letter No.GAB-10/1/77 (Pt) dated-25th July, 2008 , the Naga Hoho vide its letter No. NH/Corr/2008-11, dated, 22.9.08 conveyed the unanimous and unambiguous views of its Presidential Council held on 05.09.2008 in favour of granting of Indigenous Inhabitant status to Rongmei Community as per Government Notification No. AR-8/76 Dated Kohima the 28th April1977.
(b) The Naga Hoho also opined in the same letter that the State Government may exercise utmost care and deal with the matter with all seriousness so as to avoid any communal misgivings.
(c) Subsequently, on the decision of the State Government to grant Indigenous Tribe status to the Rongmei Community in 2012, complaints were raised from Zeliang Peoples’ Organization (ZPO), who eventually took the matter to the court and the matter remained sub-judice.
(d) The Naga Hoho is of the view that the 26th Sept. 2016 decision of the State Government, which is the only competent authority to take decisions on the matter to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee to study all aspects of the issue, is a welcome development. The Naga Hoho believes that the State Government has arrived at this decision fully recognising the recent discontentment expressed by certain Naga tribes on the decision of the State Government to grant Indigenous Naga Tribe status to Rongmei Community.
(e) The Naga Hoho appeals to the Cabinet Sub-Committee to take all stakeholders on board and make all out effort to arrive at a consensus amongst the Naga society and also review the status of the other Indigenous inhabitants of the state.
(f) The Naga Hoho further appeals to the three Naga Tribes, namely Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho to reconsider its decision to withdraw from Naga Hoho and actively participate in all the activities of the Hoho in the larger interest of the Naga Society.
II. Empowered Committee on Goodwill Mission: Keeping in view the seriousness of the issue and the dissociation of some Federating Units from Naga Hoho, the Federal Assembly resolved to set up an Empowered Committee to pursue the matter with the three tribes namely, Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho. The Committee shall comprise of eleven members;
III. Municipal Act 2001: The house viewed that the Municipal Act 2001 is defective and therefore, the house resolved that, the Act must be amended at the earliest. Further, the matter has been endorsed to the Executive Council for further decision.
IV. Strengthening of Naga Hoho: the Federal Assembly on this day the 28th September 2016 hereby solemnly pledge to commit and rededicate ourselves to strengthen the sanctity of Naga Hoho against all forms of internal and external elements.
Kenysung Tep Speaker F/A, Naga Hoho
K.Elu Ndang Assembly Secretary, Naga Hoho.
