Morung Express News
November 23
DIMAPUR: In an order or azha reportedly signed by the Central Administrative Officer (CAO), NSCN (IM)/GPRN of the Sangtam region, the United Sangtam Likhum Bumji (USLB), which is the apex tribal body of the Sangtams, has been ordered as dissolved. The order to dissolve the tribal body was reportedly taken on November 16 after a closed door meeting called by an NSCN (IM) Steering Committee member from the region and the order was reportedly signed the next day on November 17 by Y. Vitoshe Sangtam, CAO of the Sangtam region. According to reliable sources, the order will come into effect immediately and will be enforced with all seriousness till further orders.
As per the azha or order, during the period of dissolution, no group or individual would be allowed to organize or convene any meeting. The order has also reportedly warned that there should be no official correspondence and sending of representatives on behalf of the USLB.
This extreme measure of the NSCN (IM) was reportedly taken “in order to bring about unity” caused by the recent sharp differences within the Sangtam tribe, which the order stated, had placed the functioning of the USLB in complete ‘jeopardy’.
The reasons behind the dissolution remains unclear but the NSCN (IM) reportedly alleged that a ‘situation’ had been created within the USLB by a few persons under cover of the Tuensang Mon Public Organization (TMPO) thereby causing a sharp division in the Sangtam tribe and thus placing the functioning of the USLB in jeopardy.
It may be mentioned that the USLB had earlier excommunicated from the Sangtam community, the present Naga Hoho President Horangtse Sangtam and the then USLB President Thrinimong Sangtam accusing them of dishonoring several resolutions taken by the USLB.
Mention may also be made that on September 16 the USLB had issued a notification removing Thrinimong as USLB President accusing him of hatching a ‘conspiracy’.
Defending the dissolution of the USLB, NSCN (IM) sources maintained that several attempts were made by the GPRN, Sangtam region to ‘restore unity and understanding’ between the contending parties but had failed.
Meanwhile, prior to the dissolution order, a team of USLB members from Kiphire and Dimapur region had gone to Chare to attend a meeting slated for November 7-9 but were reportedly prevented from attending the meet by the NSCN (IM) authorities.
It was learnt that the TMPO had a closed door meeting at Kohima on November 15 following speculations that the NSCN (IM) had directed the respective CAO of the GPRN to issue similar dissolution order against the other remaining units of the TMPO.
