ZRO's VP for reform of organisation
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, November 19 2018: Weeks after rift within the ZRO/ZRA became public with the conflicting groups engaging in a public spat, the vice-president and four of his cabinet colleagues outlined before the fourth-estate the reasons their desire to see change in the organisation in particular as the Zomi as a whole.

A communique signed in the name of Calvin H, vice president ZRO; DS Adam, secretary finance (Exp); Hangshyanthang, secretary P&SD; Thianvenlian, secretary finance (R); and Khupthang, secretary home was also handover on the side-lines of the meeting wherein they recalled the purpose, mandate and cause for establishing the organisation in 1993.The Zomi Reunification Organisation was established under the leadership of Khaizasong Guite to fight for the cause of the Zomi ethnic groups spread across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

With the desire for better understanding and support from the Zomis across the border in Myanmar, the leadership of the organisation was later given to Thanglianpau alias Siapau, a former Zomi National Congress (ZNC) Member of Parliament from Myanmar, it said.

'Although, the organisation was set up by various Zomi organsiations and bodies with the support and cooperation of the people to spearhead the Zomi cause - an organisation for the Zomis, by the Zomis and for the Zomis - it has slowly transformed itself into a dictatorial set up akin to Myanmar's military junta driven by the whims and fancies of an individual while ignoring the desire of the Zomi public at large,' maintained the statement adding, 'often to the extent of being a threat and nuisance to the people it was set up to serve and protect'.

Therefore, said the five rebel cabinets that they sincerely desire for change and accordingly highlighted four points in which they desire to see the change.

Firstly, it said, they desire to bring about a constitutional change or amendment in the constitution of the ZRO to ensure balance participation in election of leaders from all constituent Zomi tribes to build and nurture a robust organisation that truly struggles to achieve the desire and political aspirations of the Zomi people.

Secondly, they sought to protect the federal structure and social fabric of the Zomi tribes.

'It is our conviction that the strength of the Zomi Nation lies in each of the constituent tribes.

Hence it is our commitment, under the reformed ZRO, to respect the desires of each constituent tribe and ensure the adoption of a federal structure in various Zomi organisations, including the tribe councils (Zomi Council and various Zomi tribe-based apex bodies), philanthropic organisations (Zomi Youth Organisation and Zomi tribe-based philanthropic organisations) and student bodies (Zomi Students Federation and Zomi tribe-based student bodies).

This they claimed will no longer burden a particular tribe or organisation as an experiment to a quasi-federal structure defined by a particular individual.

It also claimed that the time is too early to denote one particular dialect as the lingua franca for the Zomi people, as such a Literature Society or ZOLLS is not unnecessary, and is not the right time.

Lastly, the five individuals verbally and through the statement said they desire and pray for change.

The present state of affairs in the Zomi society as all may be aware, and many of them them are beyond doubt that result of the highhandedness of an individual.

'We have prayed for months and years to the Almighty for a positive change.

We are now in a position to bring about change to the Zomi people.

It is upon us as a Nation to trust our own prayer and act upon it,' they said.

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