Naga Hoho speaks mind on Rongmei issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Kohima, September 28 2016: Consequent upon the dissociation of three Naga tribes, namely Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho from Naga Hoho on the issue of granting of indigenous Naga tribe status to Rongmei community by the Government of Nagaland, the Federal Assembly of the Naga Hoho held today clarified on being approached by the Government of Nagaland "seeking the opinion of the Naga Hoho on the above matter vide its letter No.GAB-10/1/77 (Pt) dated25th July, 2008, the Naga Hoho vide its letter No.NH/ Corr/2008-11, dated, 22.9.08 conveyed the unanimous and unambiguous views of its Presidential Council of the Naga Hoho held on September 5, 2008 in favour of granting indigenous inhabitant status to Rongmei community as per Government notification No.AR-8/76 Dated Kohima the April 28, 1977".The Naga Hoho also opined in the same letter that the State Government of Nagaland "may exercise utmost care and deal with the matter with all seriousness so as to avoid any communal misgivings" .

Naga Hoho speaks mind on Rongmei issue

According to the Naga Hoho, subsequently, on the decision of the State Government to grant indigenous tribe status to the Rongmei community in 2012, complaints were raised from Zeliang Peoples' Organization (ZPO), which eventually took the matter to the Court and the matter remained sub-judice.

The Naga Hoho said it is of the view that the September 26, 2016 decision of the State Government, which is the only competent authority to take decisions on the matter to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee to study all aspects of the issue, is a welcome development.

The Naga Hoho said it "believes that the State Government has arrived at this decision fully recognising the recent discontentment expressed by certain Naga tribes on the decision of the State Government to grant indigenous Naga tribe status to Rongmei community" .

The Naga Hoho appealed to the Cabinet Sub-Committee to take all stakeholders on board and make all out effort to arrive at a consensus amongst the Naga society and also review the status of the other indigenous inhabitants of the State.

The Naga Hoho further appealed to the Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho to reconsider its decision to withdraw from Naga Hoho and actively participate in all the activities of the Hoho in the larger interest of the Naga society.

Keeping in view the seriousness of the issue and the dissociation of some federating units from Naga Hoho, the Federal Assembly resolved to set up an Empowered Committee to pursue the matter with the three tribes namely, Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho Hoho and Lotha Hoho.

The Committee will comprise of eleven members.

Today's Naga Hoho Federal Assembly then "solemnly pledged to commit and rededicate ourselves to strengthen the sanctity of Naga Hoho against all forms of internal and external elements" .