Maring Uparup
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2014: Following the order issued by Isak Chisi Swu, chairman of the Government of Peoples' Republic of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) on July 21, 2014 recognising Uipo (Khoibu) as one of the Naga tribes (separated from Maring), the Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA), the apex Maring tribe body has recommended all the Maring 'national workers' in the NSCN-IM to resign on moral ground by September 27, failing which they would be socially boycotted and considered anti-Maring and the announcement would be made during a public meeting which will be held at Khurkarthil Community Hall, Chandel district.

Khoibu has been known under the nomenclature of Maring.

Mention may be made here that the Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA) had earlier set September 18 as the deadline for the resignation of the 'national workers' and had also stated that the Maring people are not against the NSCN-IM but they are however against the order of Isak Chisi Swu who recognised Uipo (Khoibu) as a Naga tribe without taking into confidence the leaders of the MUA.

Saying that altogether 18 Maring 'national workers' (Marings in the NSCN-IM) including 'Kilonsor' Angnaikham Makunga have already submitted their resignation letters as sought by the MUA, even though they have not been accepted yet, the MUA added that it expects all the other Maring 'national workers' to resign by September 27 .

The MUA said that following the order given by NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu, the Maring frontal organisations had convened a meeting on July 24 and decided to approach the 'collective leadership' of the outfit to withdraw or revoke the said order.

During the meeting with the 'collective leadership' of the NSCN-IM on August 1, 2014 in New Delhi, the MUA was told that the order was in line with the Naga 'national principle' which states that if any group of people approach them for recognition as a tribe on the basis of separate identity-history, tradition, culture, customary practices, attires and ornaments, the recognition is not denied.

The MUA was also told that the identity of the Maring tribe cannot be threatened by the Uipo (Khoibu) tribe.

The MUA had earlier mentioned that the order of Isak Chisi Swu was against the principle of formation of Joint Working Committee (JWC) collectively by the Maring frontal organisations, the Khoibu Tribe Demand Committee and the GPRN represented by AC Maring, the then secretary, Planning of the outfit.

It also said that the Maring people respect the 'National principle' of the GPRN, but at the same time the claim of uniqueness of Khoibu identity has to be authenticated.

Recognizing any Naga tribe without doing this will be a mockery of 'National principle' and suicidal, said the MUA.

It said that way back in 2011, the issue of Uipo (Khoibu) tribe recognition was taken as an internal matter of the Maring tribe which was agreed upon and subsequently both the parties agreed to reconcile and form the JWC to work out modalities for accommodative arrangement on December 4, 2011 .

It said that the order of recognising Uipo (Khoibu) as a separate Naga tribe is not at all expected and acceptable to the Maring public.

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