Naga plea to PM on clash

Zeliangrongs seek security against Dimasa attacks

Imphal, June 20 : The Zeliangrong community has petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and take steps to end what it called an “ethnic cleansing” campaign by the Dimasa rebels against the Zeme Nagas residing in North Cachar Hills district of Assam. In a memorandum faxed yesterday, the community demanded adequate protection for the Nagas in the trouble-torn district and reining-in of the Dilip Nunisa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah. It also demanded immediate relief materials, including medicines, for the Nagas and arms to the village volunteer force for self-protection. The memorandum was sent by the Zeliangrong Boudi (Union), the apex body of the community, the Zeme Council and a relief committee. The memorandum said DHD (Nunisa) and DHD (Jewel) militants had killed 48 Zeme Nagas and burnt 247 houses belonging to the community in NC Hills since 2000, forcing hundreds to flee homes and take shelter in the neighbouring states. Achun Kamei, the secretary of the relief committee of the community, said 800 villagers were taking shelter at Tousem in Manipur’s Tamenglong district, 200 in Nagaland and 5,000 in Assam. The memorandum charged that though the pro-talks DHD (Nunisa) was under a ceasefire agreement with the government, its cadres were “roaming freely” with sophisticated arms. It stated that the militants had imposed an “economic blockade” denying food and other relief materials to the Zeme Nagas and that people in 82 Naga villages would face starvation unless the Centre provided immediate relief. The memorandum also alleged that the security forces were siding with the rebels in the campaign against the Zeme Nagas. Stating that the root cause of the conflict was the Dimasa demand for a change in the name of the district from NC Hills to Dima Hasao Rajit (Kingdom of Dimasas), the memorandum demanded that the Centre should prevent the Assam government from conceding to the demand. “The Dimasas constitute only 37 per cent of the population in NC Hills. If the Assam government concedes to the demand, all the minority communities in the district will be finished,” Kamei said. “We hope that you will look into the matter seriously to extend human touch for healing the wounds of the Naga community in NC Hills and restore lasting peace in the region,” the memorandum petitioned the Prime Minister.