Dimapur, July 29 (MExN): The Tikhir Tribal Council today informed of its refusal to attend a meeting with the Yimchunger Tribal Council proposed to be held July 15 in Kohima.
Among other reasons, the TTC in a statement today said the Tikhir and Yimchunger communities are two different tribes and so “relative type talk” does not arise at all.
The Tikhir council also advised that doing away with intimidations and “warning talk” will do a world of good to the communities in concern. The TTC mentioned in its statement that the YTC’s letter even stated: “if you think of keeping our land in good shape and wants to live in peace then think about it and reply, fooding (sic), lodging will be done by YTC.”
Narrating the turn of events, the Tikhir council said the Yimchunger Tribal Council proposed a meeting between the TTC and the YTC, in Kohima. The TTC leaders were asked to reach Kohima by July 14 and the meeting as proposed for July 15.
After much deliberation, the Tikhir Tribal Council decided that the proposed meeting in Kohima ‘at this juncture’ was not “feasible” and the inability to meet, due to time constraints and factors, was informed to the YTC July 7.
The TTC also suggested that the meeting be held in Kiusam town in Kiphire district comprising a third party (Government administration and ‘neighboring’ tribes like the Sangtam, Chang and Khiamniungan under the ENPO platform). The TTC stated: “The YTC replied (on July 11) that due to this season, vehicles cannot come to Kiusam town. (It) also said they want to have ‘relatives’ type discussion thereby resenting the involvement of the third party.
“They wanted the meeting along with the two Yimchunger parliamentary secretaries at Kohima saying since they are government’s sons/agents they cannot come to a place as mentioned. Their last stanza concludes by ‘if you think of keeping our land in good shape and wants to live in peace then think about it and reply, fooding (sic), lodging will be done by YTC.’”
The TTC clarified that Kiusam town is connected by a ‘motorable’ road from Pungro town. The TTC also stated that “Tikhirs with Yimchungers” are two different tribes with “lots of happenings beyond human tolerance and imagination.”
“So relatives type talk does not arise here; if any joint meeting is to be taken up, the TTC want the third party (government and neighboring tribes) to be part of it,” the Tikhir council said.
“Lastly, doing away with intimation and warning talks will do a world of good to all tribes, communities. Individual retrospection in right sense will bring about real peace and lasting solution,” TTC added.
