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Dimapur, June 9 (EMN): The Rengma Hoho on Wednesday expressed its support to the Rengma Nagas in Assam in their demand for an autonomous district and appealed to the government of India to show human compassion towards their long-standing plight.
The hoho issued statement of solidarity close on the heels of Rengma Naga Peoples’ Council’s memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding creation of a Rengma Hills Autonomous District.
Amid reports that the Central and Assam governments are planning create a Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) by signing a peace accord with insurgent groups of Karbi Anglong, the Rengma Hoho stated that it denounce “any peace deal without the consent, consultation and consideration of the legitimate historical facts and rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the land”.
‘The historical record of Rengmas who have been living in the Rengma Hills of Assam (now changed to Karbi Anglong) have been distinctly documented even before the advent of the British in the area,’ the Rengma Hoho stated.
It expressed displeasure over repressing the Rengmas, who have been protecting the Rengma Hills in Assam for centuries even before the invasion of the British and giving precedence to “migrants”.
“Should human iniquity be allowed to burgeon to the point where a group of people consciously and systematically devises to erase the historical record of the indigenous people from their land? Is this not human rights violation, how can the country ardently advocate human rights while at same time tolerate violation of human rights within her own territory?” it asked.
“Even after 74 years of Independence, Rengma Hills of Karbi Anglong have been deprived of basic human needs – electricity, road, communication and water supply,” it state, adding that “the region has not witnessed any substantial development and continues to be trapped in a poverty-stricken pre-independence time capsule.”
The Rengma Hoho continued that “they (Rengmas in Assam) have survived on their own for centuries but now their existence is threatened and endangered partly due to the apathy of the government”.