LNBA-M disassociates from ZBCC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 05 2017:
Liangmai Naga Baptist Association, Manipur, (LNBA-M) has disassociated from the Zeliangrong Baptist Churches Council (ZBCC) .
In a statement, Rev Z Mairilungbou Niumai, executive secretary, LNBA-M said that the Liangmai Naga Baptist Association, Manipur, (LNBA-M) fully endorsed the Liangmai People Convention held on October 9, 2015 at Konsaram, where the Liangmai people declared that Zeliangrong is not the name of a tribe but a social organisation of three kindred tribes which was formed on February 15, 1947 at Keishamthong, Imphal for the purpose of safeguarding common ancestral land and promoting cultural heritage of the four tribes namely Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Npui tribe of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam .
Therefore, the Liangmai People Convention declared that treating and recognising this so-called ‘Zeliangrong’ to be a tribe by the United Naga Council, the Naga Hoho and the Naga 'National govt' is unjustified and mistaken identity .
It is a fact that these three kindred tribes – Zeme, Liangmai & Rongmei- have a distinctive dialect of their own and have already developed their own literature by producing many books and Bibles etc.
More importantly, the languages of the Liangmai and the Rongmeis were recognised by State Govt at the level of class X and XII respectively.
It is also a fallacy that even after the State Govt of Manipur and Indian Govt recognised and listed in the gazette as three distinctive tribes but ironically their own Naga family unwittingly reluctant to accept the reality out of their own ignorance.
It is also very unfortunate that some of the so-called self styled ‘Zeliangrong’ leaders tried to mislead the common people and give obstacle in the process of tribe recognition out of self interest, it said .
The second reason why LNBA-M disassociated from ZBCC is that, the present status of Christian organisations and social organisations are self contradictory because the components of ZBCC (religious organisation) were LNBA-M, RNBA, and ZNBA representing three separate kindred tribes in federal structure; whereas, Zeliangrong Baudi/Zeliangrong Union is not represented by Liangmai Naga Council, Rongmei Naga Council, and Zeme Naga Council, in federal structure.
Instead these social organisations like ZB and ZU claimed the Zeliangrong to be one tribe and represented to the Naga organisations accordingly, the statement said .
That is the reason why the executive secretary, LNBA-M in the joint meeting of the ZBCC officials and the LNBA-M cabinets held on Aug 4, 2017 at LNBA-M conference hall explained in detail about the position of LNBA-M that the ZBCC was formed on the basis of strengthening the age old bond of three kindred tribes.
Therefore, Zeliangrong is not one tribe but it is a composite name of three kindred tribes.
Thus, the LNB-M cabinets in the meeting requested the president and general secretary, of ZBCC in this regard to clarify the position of ZBCC in the social media so that other Zeliangrong social organisations can also function in the same manner like ZBCC without having any confusion.
In that particular meeting, the LNBA-M cabinets made its position very clear that if the ZBCC failed to assert its position boldly through mass media, the LNBA-M will disassociate from the ZBCC without regret.
Now, the LNBA-M felt betrayed by ZBCC because in spite of their assurance of upholding the basic foundation of ZBCC, the president and general secretary of ZBCC failed to assert the truth before the general public, it said .
Since ZBCC could not uphold the basic principle of its very existence, ‘the 20th LNBA-M Pastors’ Council Meeting’ unanimously resolved in its resolution no 8 to disassociate themselves from ZBCC and forward for approval at the 50th Executive Meeting of LNBA-M and approved accordingly .
It is therefore, the LNBA-M's earnest request to the ZBCC to strike off the word, ‘Liang’ from ‘Zeliangrong’ since the LNBA-M is no longer a member of the Zeliangrong Baptist Churches Council, it added.
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