CNTC serves ultimatum: Revoke Rongmei ‘tribe’ status in 30 days

The festering issue of recognition given to the Rongmei community in Nagaland as a ‘tribe’ by the Nagaland government has taken a new turn: the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has placed before the state government a 30-day ultimatum to revoke the indigenous tribe status granted to the Rongmei.  

The organization issued a formal statement on Friday warning of an own course of action should the government fail to comply with the demand. The statement, expected to come sooner or later, can be perceived as a manifestation of resentment from communities in the state who see the recognition as an open threat to local community stakes and social capital. 

Besides the demand for revocation, the organization has also demanded that the “endorsement” given by the Naga Hoho on November 22, 2008 should be withdrawn.

The organization, which comprises the Ao, the Lotha and the Sumi tribal apexes, informed to have met on July 22 to take the decision of serving the ultimatum.

“The Central Nagaland Tribes Council has demanded that the indigenous tribe status granted to the Rongmeis be revoked within 30 days from the date of this publication,” the statement said.

“This decision was taken at a joint meeting comprising of the three apex tribal bodies of the Aos, Lothas and the Sumis on 22nd July 2016 at Khehokhu village.”

“Failure to comply with the demand, the three apex tribal bodies would resort to its own course of action. The CNTC questioned the ulterior motive of this move and reiterated that if a small state like Nagaland keep on giving the indigenous tribe status to every inhabitant, tomorrow anyone from anywhere will start demanding it where the original inhabitant tribes of the present state of Nagaland will be endangered by the ramifications of such thoughtless move.”

The CNTC made clear that the Rongmei community did not have a specific geographical territory within Nagaland, for which granting them the status of ‘tribe’ in the state was unjustified.  

“The Rongmeis do not have any specific geographical territory within the state of Nagaland and granting of the tribe status is not justified and uncalled for though the indigenous inhabitant status may be granted to those who settled in Nagaland prior to 1963 qualifying the required criteria,” the CNTC stated.

“Nagaland today cannot afford to jeopardize its own self and its future generations by granting of indigenous tribe status to anyone demanding it, as such unwarranted action will surely provide as a springboard for any outsider tomorrow for demanding the same which will result in utter chaos and spell doom for the future generations.”

(Al Ngullie, July 29, 2016; Eastern Mirror)

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