DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): Rengma Students’ Union (RSU), Nagaland has appealed the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) to withdraw the ‘Accept Karbi identity or leave Rengma Hills’ ultimatum served to Rengmas of Karbi-Anglong. In the backdrop of the KPLT issuing the arbitrary diktat, the RSU had held an emergency Union Assembly on June 15 at Tseminyu during which the issue was discussed at length.
A four-point declaration, discussed at the meeting, was released to the media, which, among others, termed the KPLT diktat as arbitrary, “baseless and illogical”.
The statement, appended by the RSU Union Assembly speaker, Jetilo Apon, read, “The Rengma Students’ Union view the very ultimatum given to Rengmas living in their own land in Karbi Anglong by Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) to either ‘accept the identity of the Karbi or to leave the Rengma Hills before 9th July 2013’ is nothing but baseless and illogical.”
The RSU further questioned as to why the organization instead of upholding good inter-community relations resort to serving “such an unacceptable and shocking ultimatum to the Rengmas who are the sons of the soil at this highly advanced age when the whole world is heading for peace and prosperity.”
While appealing the Karbi community and the KPLT to withdraw the ultimatum unconditionally and immediately, in the interest of peaceful coexistence, the statement strongly made itself clear that the RSU is committed to protecting its territorial boundary and safeguarding of the Rengma people.
NMA calls for reconsideration
Meanwhile, the Naga Mothers’ Association has appealed the leaders of the KPLT to reconsider its ultimatum. The NMA, in a press release, stated that it will be women and children, who will be the most affected as a result of the ultimatum. Expressing its concern on the plight of the displaced Rengma people, the NMA stated, “The victims comprising of mostly women and children, for no fault of their own, are again the worst sufferers for which the NMA expresses our resentment, which also comes at a time when the villagers are engaged in the peak season of cultivation which is their main source of livelihood.”
While appealing the leaders of the KPLT to reconsider their unreasonable course of action, the NMA further appealed to the conscience of the Karbi people, particularly Karbi women organization, to intervene and restore normalcy; and help sustain “the cordial relationship between the Karbis and the Nagas, who have lived together for ages in their God given respective ancestral lands.”
