Tamenglong, Jul 1 : A public gathering and mass rally was held at Haipou Jaduannang’s Park, Tamenglong district organized by the Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong Zone this afternoon where a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister of India was submitted through the deputy commissioner, Tamenglong for effective intervention by the Centre for restoration of lasting peace and long term relief measures for Zeliangrong Nagas of North Cachar Hills district of Assam.
In the memorandum, the Zeliangrong community pointed out the main causes for the ethnic violence between Zeliangrong Nagas and Dimasari, which it said originated from the proposal for altering the nomenclature of the Autonomous District Council of NC Hills district of Assam to “Dima Hasao Raji” which means “Dimasa’s kingdom” along with reservation of 80 percent government jobs for Dimasa people alone, transfer of land and rights to Dimasa’s only and issue of Inner Line Permits (ILP) to all other non- Dimasa tribes.
However, the Zeliangrong Naga community in NC Hills and other tribes have not agreed to such a proposal, it stated.
Further, the memorandum charged the Indian Army and DHD (D) of undertaking joint operations and obstructing the village volunteers in defending their respective villages against the attack of Dimasa and their militants.
The 12-page memorandum demanded immediate relief measures be taken up to stock food grains at strategic points before the monsoon sets in to save the Naga population from hunger and to extend medical and health care with life saving drugs.
Further, the memo also demanded the NC Hills district administration, police and Army protect the Naga people, their houses and lands without discrimination as the Nagas in NC Hills were citizens of India and they have the right for protection. It also demanded that the village volunteers force be equipped with arms so that they could protect their respective villages as the Army and police could not cover vast areas for protection and there are instances of security lapses.
It also strongly demanded an end to the economic blockade imposed upon the Zeliangrong Nagas by the DHD(D) and DHD(J) and to extend all measures for security and normalcy in NC Hills so that all communities could live trusting one another in peaceful co-existence.
The memo was signed by GH Newmeh, president of Zeme Council Manipur, Shonghuwang Gonmei, chairman of Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong zone, Guiliangliu Panmei, president of Zeliangrongpui Baudi Tamenglong, Thomas Kamei, secretary of Relief Committee Tamenglong district for NC Hills incident 2009, G Shongbui, the chairman Zelaingrong Baudi Tousem zone, and Ahimle, president of the Zemepui Baudi.
The memo showed the number of dead and injured from the Zeme Nagas and also a long list of numbers of houses burned down by DHD(J) and DHD(D) in the ethnic violence till today.