Tseminyu, January 3: ‘Is it state-sponsored ethnic cleansing? Why is Sushil Kumar Shinde silent? What is the stance of the Naga political group on these matters?’ were the questions lingering at the protest held on January 3 at Tseminyu as Rengma Nagas and other well wishers extended solidarity towards the Western Rengmas of Karbi Anglong.
Urging the people for immediate intervention, Songigü Shweng, President, Western Rengma Students’ Union Nagaland (WRSUN) pointed out that “thousands are still stranded; they can neither come out nor can anyone go in.” In a message to the rally, he further asserted that the Rengmas under Assam are deprived of all constitutional privileges such as proper schools, medical establishments, highway or electricity. The message further added that even Rengmas in towns like Diphu are being forced to vacate.
Giving a brief history of the Rengma Nagas, Sawathang Kez Seb, President Rengma Hoho, said that the Rengma Nagas inhabited the Rengma Hills even before the British invasion. It was during the British colonial period that the Rengma Hills were created and demarcated on April 18, 1841. The entire hill was divided into two mouzas namely the East Rengma Mouza and the West Rengma Mouza for the purpose of revenue/tax collection.
Rev. Tenga Seb, Executive Secretary, Council Rengma Baptist Churches, also pointed out that the inhuman activities have gone to such an extent that even the Church cannot tolerate it.
“What are the Rengma national workers doing?” questioned Phongdelo Woch voicing the opinion of Nagas on social networking sites, adding that taxes are being paid to the national workers to “protect our land.”
In the meantime, three relief camps in Santipur alone are housing 891 (Borpathar High School), 98 (Purana Borpathar, LP School) and 214 (Borpathar Girls High School) refugees respectively. Though violence has been brought to a halt with Assam police being posted at the villages, more concerns continue to surface.
While the Rengma apex bodies in Assam are planning to hold talks with the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council directly, the Rengma Naga Students’ Union, Karbi Anglong, has raised concerns over the condition of students at the relief camps. “The hostilities were happening at a time when the students were on a vacation from school but they have to get back to their schools to appear for their examinations. The government has to facilitate this,” stated the RNSU to The Morung Express. The Union further raised concerns on the condition of people still stranded in Phencherop, Khanari and Borlangso, whose ration is running out quickly alongside the complete absence of medical aid.
Human Rights groups appeal reflection on KA
KOHIMA: The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), the Karbi Human Rights Watch (KHRW) and the Indigenous Women Forum of North East India (IWFNEI) have appealed to all sections of the two communities to “immediately cease all kinds of provocations and take a moment to reflect on what could have triggered the destruction of the age-old relationship between the Nagas and Karbis.”
Putting facts together, the rights groups have noted the set of events that transpired between June and December 2013. “It is interesting to note that, when “suspected” RNHPF were beating up Karbi Villagers as reported above, there were a few cadres who were very fluently speaking “Assamese”. And while questioning the lackadaisical attitude of the Assam Government, it is also interesting to note that sometime in August 2013, around 50 cadres of the KPLT with 6 (six) leaders has left the organization to surrender to the Government of Assam, but till date, there whereabouts are unknown and there are also no records of them laying down their arms,” stated the three organizations in a press release.
Keeping this in mind, they have stated that while a problem may lie with the armed conflict between the Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) and the Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force (RNHPF), “it will be worthwhile to address this problem within the context of the confrontation and not pull-in the communities as a whole which will only be self-defeating.”
The NPMHR, KHRW and IWFNEI have appealed to both the KPLT and the RNHPF to “come across the table and remove the elements that have exploited the situation and enable the displaced Rengma Nagas to come back to their villages and respective settlements.”
