Apex tribe body for Nagaland Nagas emerges from ULB ashes

Dimapur, March 3: In a fresh development that will certainly ruffle a few feathers, the apex tribe organisations of Nagaland have come together to form a common tribal platform exclusively for the Naga tribes of the state of Nagaland.

This has all the ingredients to send panic waves across the NSCN (IM) establishment and the Naga Hoho. For years, the Naga tribes of Nagaland state have struggled to forge a common platform inclusive of all the tribes of Nagaland.

Ironically, it was the government’s attempt to conduct municipal elections and the death of two youth in the violent repercussions recently that provided the Naga tribes of Nagaland with the motive to come under one house.
The Naga Hoho, rightly or wrongly, choosing not to get involved in the entire episode also contributed to the feeling among the Naga tribes of Nagaland that they need an apex organisation to stand for what they saw as their rights.

When the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) previously met in Dimapur on February 21 last, the idea of forming a Nagaland-exclusive apex tribe body was discussed widely. On that day it was decided that the tribe hohos will gather again on Friday, March 3, to give the idea its final shape.

Thus the JCC and the NTAC convened a meeting of “all the apex tribe hohos” of Nagaland at the Tourist Lodge in Dimapur on Friday.

Supu Jamir, convener of the JCC, told reporters after the meeting that they “unanimously resolved in principle” to form a “common platform” exclusively for Naga tribes of Nagaland. “The tribe hohos have been entrusted with the matter (of forming the body),” he said.

He politely turned down any attempts to discuss the matter as, in his own words, “the child is not yet born.” He however said that one of the chief reasons behind the decision to form the body was to protect the rights of the Nagas of Nagaland as provided under Article 371 (A).

According to Supu the meeting also resolved to issue the state government with a 7-day ultimatum “with effect from the date of submission of representation” for suspension of the former commissioner of Dimapur police, the police officials of Longleng and all the other police personnel involved in the January 31 “indiscriminate” firing.

The JCC and the NTAC is expected to submit the said representation within the next two days. Pointing out that the State government had swiftly dismissed the then Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur and the Superintendent of Dimapur police in the aftermath of the infamous March 5 incident, he said that same yardstick must be applied.

It was resolved in the meeting that the JCC and the NTAC will “approach the State government” for revocation of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolution of November 22, 2016, and also to “pursue” the amendment of Nagaland Municipal Act.

During the meeting, it was also decided that the apex tribe hohos will approach the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) to persuade the latter to withdraw the Special Leave Petition (SLP) it has filed at the Supreme Court. Despite reports to the contrary, the JCC and NTAC leaders claimed that the NMA was yet to withdraw the petition.

It also “re-endorsed” the JCC and the NTAC to spearhead the ‘movement’ until all their demands are fulfilled. “However, if any assistance is required by the JCC and the NTAC, we may seek assistance from the tribe hohos,” he informed.