Tamenglong, April 1 (MExN): The Rongmei Naga People’s Organisation (RNPO) has issued a directive to all its unit councils/frontal organizations in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland not to participate in the meeting convened by the Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) at Jalukie town on April 3 “till such time the parallel bodies i.e., Zeliangrong Baudi and Zeliangrong Union merge into one apex body as per their Joint Declaration made at a consultative meeting held at Imphal on May 25, 2017.” “Any individual from Rongmei tribe attending the meeting will be doing so on his or her own accord and any outcome of the meeting will have no official endorsement from the tribe as a whole,” the RNPO stated in a statement on Sunday. The directive, it stated, is in line with the unanimous resolutions adopted at the meeting of the Joint Councils of Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei on September 22, 2015 at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur. It added that the directive was also issued as no official circular/information of the proposed meeting was received by the RNPO or the Rongmei Council, Nagaland. On the issue of tribe recognition, the RNPO stated that it differs with the Joint Declaration of the Zeliangrong Baudi and the Zeliangrong Union for recognition of Zeliangrong as a single tribe. The Zeliangrong Baudi or Zeliangrong Union is an organisation and not a tribe and as such, “they cannot represent themselves as a tribe body in any apex tribal organisation/government,” the RNPO asserted and further reminded that a declaration in this connection was also made by the RNPO at the Rongmei People’s Convention in Tamenglong on January 9, 2018. While making it clear that it was not against Zeliangrong organisations working for peace, unity and welfare of the Zeliangrong people, the RNPO however argued that it would be wrong if they claim to be a legitimate tribe. “An organisation is an entity comprising multiple people with different assigned responsibilities, whereas a tribe is a single people with distinct dialect, culture, costume, and territory… These two cannot be mixed up,” the RNPO maintained. The RNPO further reminded that the meeting of the Joint Councils at Hotel Saramati expressed “technical difficulties” faced in the process of making Zeliangrong as one tribe and that, “respective councils shall deal in matters of tribe issue.” The meeting of the Joint Councils was attended by presidents and vice presidents of Zeme Council (NEI), Liangmai Council Nagaland, Rongmei Council Nagaland, Liangmai Council Manipur, Rongmei Council Manipur, Zeme Council Nagaland, Zeme Council Assam, Zeme Council Manipur, Rongmei Council Assam, and RNPO. The meeting further stated that any member of the respective tribe having to do with or being called to any office of trusted social organisation must seek the knowledge and recommendation of the respective tribes. Meanwhile, the RNPO also countered claims from the Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) that the NSCN (IM) has divided the Zeliangrong people by recognizing Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei as tribes. “The RNPO understands that this decision was taken following the memorandum submitted to the NSCN/GPRN for recognition as distinct tribe and not organisation. As such, we welcome and vindicate the NSCN/GPRN’s decision taken in the interests of all Nagas,” the RNPO’s statement concluded.
