NSCN (I-M) warned that it would not allow the Rengma Nagas to be driven to the edge without considering their historical factual status.
TFM Desk
Taking a strong view of the proposed creation of the Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) in Karbi Anglong, Assam, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Isaak-Muivah has asserted that any agreement that “victimises” the Rengma Nagas would not be acceptable to the Nagas in general and to the NSCN (I-M) in particular.
NSCN (I-M) warned that it would not allow the Rengma Nagas to be driven to the edge without considering their historical factual status. The Rengmas are not lost people or immigrants like others in Karbi Anglong, it added.
A release by the Ministry of Information and Publicity of NSCN (I-M) contended that land alienation is the major point of conflict in the Northeast, particularly Assam and Nagaland. There can be little doubt that this is the creation of history under colonial rule.
Karbi Anglong, erstwhile known as Rengma Hills, is made the victims of aggressive influx of outsiders for vested interests. Nonetheless, their historical status as the true sons of the soil cannot be questioned. For the same reason the Rengma Nagas have a glorious history, vis-à-vis their relations with the Ahoms and the British rulers, it added.
The release stated that finalising the proposal to create Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) in Karbi Anglong, an agreement to appease the six rebel outfits — Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCKL), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) and three factions of Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), by the Government of India (GoI) and state government of Assam has drawn the attention of NSCN (I-M).
“Historically nothing is far from the truth and no authority should go far enough to override the interests of the Rengma Nagas who are the legitimate owners of the land under the questionable proposition. No wonder, taking cognizance of this historical status, the Rengma issue in Assam constitutes one of the important agendas of Indo-Naga political talks pending final decision,” it added.
The Naga outfit which is part of the ongoing peace talks with the Government of India maintained that the Naga political movement is all about land and people because land represents economic, political and social power and identity of the people.
“The Naga people had sacrificed countless lives in the course of the movement. It is a trail of blood, sweat and tears as no sacrifice comes too big for the Nagas to defend their God’s given lands”.
Given the sensitive situation in the light of the proposed KAATC, NSCN asserted that it would not accept “alienation of Nagas’ ancestral land” which is tantamount to undermining the spirit of the Indo-Naga political talks.