Jalukie, July 31 (MExN): A day after the statement of NSCN (IM) derecognizing three apex Zeliangrong bodies, the derecognized organizations – Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland), Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland), and All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) – have issued a clarification, stating that NSCN (IM) “trying to project the Zeliangrong people in the wrong light while attempting to cover up their misdeed is unfortunate and uncalled for.”
A joint statement from ZB (AMN) general secretary, Gainithoi Gonmei, ZYF (AMN) assistant general secretary, G Gaiganglung, and AZSU (AMN) vice president, Z Hulangbou termed the NSCN (IM)’s claim that separate tribe recognition granted to Zeme, Liangmai and Rongrnei was based on the request of the three apex bodies for about ten years as “complete lies and also an attempt to cover up their wrong doing for there is no apex body other than the Zeliangrong Baudi that represented the Zeliangrong people in all the Naga platforms.”
The statement wondered if the NSCN (IM)’s “arbitrary decision” taken on March 23, 2018 that trifurcated the Zeliangrong people into three separate tribes was an “interference into the internal affairs of the Zeliangrong family.”
“Why the NSCN/GPRN (IM) did not consult the leaders of the Zeliangrong Civil Organizations on such sensitive identity issue prior to the so called separate tribe recognition? Why did the NSCN/GPRN (IM) which claimed to uphold the uniqueness of the Naga history distort the Naga history when it comes to Zeliangrong tribe?” it questioned.
The three bodies further asked whether the NSCN (IM) realized that the Government of India through “administrative manipulation” gave different names and nomenclatures in different States such as “Zeliang” in Nagaland, “Kabui”, “Kacha Naga”, “Rongmei”, “Liangmai”, “Zeme” in Manipur and in Assam as “Hills tribes in plain” in Cachar valley and “Zeme” in NC Hills “despite the fact that the two scientists Dr. NK Das and Dr. N. Saha deputed by the Govt. of India from the Anthropological Survey of India in the year 1987 after thorough research had concluded that the Zeliangrong tribe has the history of common ancestry.”
Asserting that Zeliangrong tribe has “unique history” of its own, it affirmed that any political groups distorting the “unique history” of the Zeliangrong people is “not acceptable.”
Regarding the NSCN (IM) disowning the threat on their leaders, the three bodies clarified that the Joint Security Council of NSCN (IM) had declared on July 16, 2018 that ZB, ZYF, and AZSU are “anti national because of criminal activities” based on “baseless allegation” that they were working at the behest of Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF). A directive was then issued by the Collective Leaderships to Kilo Ministry to take up any appropriate action with endorsement copy made to Security Council and others for necessary action, the statement alleged, questioning “Is this not threatening?”
With regard to the reconciliation of ZUF, they asked, “Is it not the bounden responsibility of the Zeliangrong Civil Organizations to play the role of facilitator to reconcile between the members of the ZUF so that peaceful atmosphere prevails for safety and security of the people…Is it justifiable to consider reconciliation role as anti national and criminal activities?”
The statement further pointed out that a memorandum to revoke the March 23, 2018 Tatar Hoho decision to trifurcate the Zeliangrong tribes was submitted to Vice-President, NSCN (IM), “but failed to honor the voice of the Zeliangrong people.” In such situation, NSCN (IM) convened meeting on May 11 and 18, which “created an atmosphere which was not conducive to attend the meeting held at Hebron and Dimapur.” It also clarified that the Zeliangrong Civil Organizations leaders were conveyed by one of the senior most functionaries and Collective Leadership members that the Collective Leadership of NSCN (IM) wanted to meet the leaders of Zeliangrong Civil Organizations anytime and meeting can be held in Delhi, for which the leaders went to Delhi in May 2018. “But the leaders of the Zeliangrong Civil Organizations came back without holding meeting which is an insult to Zeliangrong people.”
Regarding the Statehood/Homeland issue, it was clarified that the Zeliangrong Statehood demand is “not a new thing but deeply embedded in the mind of the Zeliangrong people.” Considering the larger interest of the Naga people and conceding to the appeal made from the Naga revolutionary group, the Zeliangrong Statehood issue had been kept in low key all these years, it added. The bodies asserted that the Zeliangrong people deciding to take up the issue is neither “anti national” nor “unconstitutional.” It is also not an attempt to sabotage the peace process and Framework Agreement “rather it should be construed that it is the genuine aspiration of the Zeliangrong people to live together under one administrative unit,” it stated.
