The joint tribe council of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme has stated that Inpui Union, Liangmai Naga Council, Rongmei Naga Council and Zeme Naga Council are the only legitimate bodies that legally represent the voice of the respective tribes.
In a statement, the joint tribe council informed all concerned that any consultations required with the stakeholder should necessarily be carried out with the rightful parties, i.e., respective tribes represented by apex council of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme and not with a discredited organisation such as Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) and their frontal organisations.
The statement was jointly issued by convener of the joint tribe council and president of Rongmei Naga Council Manipur, Kenan Kamei, its general secretary and also president of Zeme Naga Council, Aku Newme, president of Inpui Naga Union, Kasahung and president of Liangmai Naga Council Manipur, Machundoubou.
It stated that it has come to the notice of aforementioned four tribe councils of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme and their frontal organisations that ZB (AMN) president Athon Abonmai and its secretary Gainithoi have been releasing irresponsible and incorrect statements in the media claiming themselves to represent the ‘Zeliangrong people’ on socially and politically sensitive subjects, including the ongoing peace talks between the Nagas and the Government of India.
It also clarified that the four constitutionally recognised tribes and their respective tribe’s apex councils and frontal organisations have never at any point of time, authorised or mandated ZB (AMN) and its office bearers to represent the four tribes in whatsoever manner at any level or forum.
“Whereas the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme tribes having been duly accorded official recognition by the government of India vide the Gazette of India Extraordinary part-II Section-I published by the authority of New Delhi dated January 1, 2012 and subsequently notified vide No. 2/27/2012- leg/L. Dated March 22, 2012 of the Manipur government’s Law and Legislative Affairs Department,” said the joint statement.
“Hence the respective tribe council, Inpui Union, Liangmai Naga Council, Rongmei Naga Council and Zeme Naga Council are the only legitimate bodies of lawfully and legally represent the voice of the respective tribes and no other ‘bodies’ whatsoever. People should take note of these facts. Therefore the respective tribe’s apex councils are recognised and represented in both the NSCN/GPRN and the United Naga Council,” it added.
According to the joint tribe council, ZB (AMN) is a body that has been derecognised by both NSCN/GPRN and the United Naga Council.
The joint statement further said that “hence the so-called ‘Zeliangrong Baudi’ has no public mandate to voice for the said tribes. The demands put up to the Prime Minister of India to not change or replace the present interlocutor to the Indo-Naga Peace Talk, RN Ravi is also not the voice of the four tribes.”
In the particular time with regard to the ongoing Indo Naga Peace Talk under the Framework Agreement 2015, the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme Naga tribes continue to fully support the negotiations led by NSCN/GPRN and endorsed by the UNC together with all the other frontal organisations of all the Naga tribes of Manipur, it said.
“There is no question of the Inpui Naga, Liangmai Naga, Rongmei Naga and Zeme Naga tribes on withdrawing their mandate from the NSCN/GPRN,” it added.
“At this crucial juncture of the ‘Indo-Naga Talk’, the Zeliangrong Baudi and its office bearer are at best speaking for themselves and not on behalf of the four major tribes,” the statement added.
