The Rengmas are not lost people or immigrants like others in Karbi Anglong, NSCN-IM stated in a release issued by its ministry of information and publicity.

Therefore, the organisation would not allow the Rengma Nagas to be driven to the edge without considering their historical factual status, it stated. Thus, NSCN-IM makes it loud and clear that any agreement that victimises the Rengma Nagas will not be acceptable to the Nagas in general and to the NSCN-IM in particular, it added.

The Government of India and state government of Assam finalising the proposal to create Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) in Karbi Anglong, is an agreement to appease the six rebel outfits like Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCKL), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) and three factions of Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), NSCN-IM stated.

However, historically nothing is far from the truth and no authority should go far enough to override the interests of the Rengma Nagas who are the legitimate owner of the land under the questionable proposition, it mentioned. No wonder, taking cognisance of this historical status, the Rengma issue in Assam constitutes one of the important agendas of Naga political talks pending final decision, it added.

Significantly, the Naga political movement is all about land and people because land represents economic, political and social power and identity of the people, it further stated. The Naga people had sacrificed countless lives in the course of the movement. It is a trail of blood, sweat and tears as no sacrifice comes too big for the Nagas to defend their God’s given lands, it added.

Land alienation is the major point of conflict in the Northeast, particularly Assam and Nagaland, it further stated. There can be little to doubt that this is the creation of history under colonial rule. The issue in focus is Karbi Anglong, erstwhile known as Rengma Hills. Rengma Hills are made the victims of aggressive influx of outsiders for vested interests, it stated. Nonetheless, their historical status as the true sons of the soil cannot be questioned. For the same reason the Rengma Nagas have a glorious history, vis-à-vis their relations with the Ahoms and the British rulers, it added.