Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): A delegation of Rongmei Naga People’s Organisation (RNPO) comprising Manipur, Assam and Nagaland has reaffirmed unflinching support to the ongoing peace process between the NSCN/GPRN and Government of India and expressed hoped that GPRN will be able to translate the Nagas’ aspiration to practicality and defend their lands, resources and rights from adversaries despite challenges that stand in the way to final settlement.
RNPO conveyed this reaffirmation when it called on the Kilo Kilonser, Home Affairs, NSCN/GPRN, Hukavi Yepthomi at his residence in Dimapur on July 10.
RNPO, in its memorandum submitted to Kilo Kilonser, drew attention to the jurisdiction of land belonging to Rongmei tribe spread across northeast India. “We have 297 recognised villages in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. However, we are unconvinced that GPRN has really made its effort to cover its administrative influence over other parts of Rongmei’s jurisdiction like Lotak Project Area, Imphal and vast stretch in Jiribam except Tamenglong under Zeilad Region. The Rongmei’s vast land is mainly located in far-flung areas, bordering present states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and needs special attention of the GPRN,” the memorandum said.
It apprised that “Rongmei community is one of the largest Naga tribes having a large size of population and lands in Northeast India and many of our young dynamic youth are serving as armed force in NSCN/GPRN. However, it is astonishing and discouraging that GPRN has not granted cabinet rank and files in Zeilad region, while other regions with even smaller population have over 4 cabinet rank and files.” It, therefore, requested the kilonser to look into the matter seriously to balance the lapses.
Appealing the GPRN to take care of burning needs at the earliest, RNPO said, “There is also a lack of effective information system to link people-to-people and create awareness about government policy and programme as GPRN is too dependent on upper-layered Zeliangrong organisations and not connected itself with grassroots of Rongmei tribe, Zeme tribe and Liangmei tribe.” In this regard, it urged upon the GPRN to recognise respective Rongmei Council, Zeme Council and Liangmei Council which are mandated by the concerned tribes. Urging the GPRN to take the mandate of a tribe and not organisation to vindicate any of its government decision on issues concerning the tribes, RNPO requested the kilonser to recognize the Rongmei apex tribe body/ representative for consultation or while dealing with issues concerning our people and areas.
Meanwhile, the Kilo Kilonser informed the delegation that the Framework Agreement is nearing final solution and that Nagas will soon enjoy the fruits of their hard work in the forms of administrative and financial autonomy. He urged the RNPO members to continue to support the Naga cause.
