UNTABA asked the Government of India to adopt proactive policies so as to review the North East Reorganization Act of 1971 in its entirety and effect necessary amendment so that any political agreement/arrangement could be made with permanency.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent
United Naga Tribes Association on Borders Areas (UNTABA) on Sunday issued statement on the purported formation of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) based on the ongoing talk between the Government of India (GoI), Government of Assam (GoA) and the various rebel groups of Karbi
Anglong as published in the various media.
According to a statement jointly issued by UNTABA chairman, Hukavi T Yeputhomi, and general secretary, Imsumongba Pongen, while acknowledging the intent of the Government of India and the Government of Assam for its initiation in bringing about peaceful political settlement with various rebel groups, however, it should be noted that no political settlement would prove fruitful if it does not honor or is based on historical facts, especially so in the case of the present Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao areas of Assam where the original settlers are Rengmas, Zeme and Zeliangrong Nagas.
Therefore, any political settlements that maybe worked out with the immigrants or late settlers can never bring about peace and tranquility in this part of the world, the statement said.
The UNTABA reminded that the British Administration penetrated the Naga Hills in the later part of the 1830s and tax collection from the Naga villages began in 1837 and when they came to learn that all these areas were inhabited by the Nagas, they declared it as ‘the Rengma Naga Hills’ in their official gazette in 1841.
It said to administer the Naga areas more conveniently, a Sub-divisional Headquarter was established at Asaloo, presently under Dima Hasao district in 1853, and then to bring about more Naga tribes directly under its administration, the Naga Hills District was created in 1866, headquartered at Samaguting, the present Chumukedima.
To avoid inconveniences and prevent further complications, a separate and distinct boundary line for the Naga Hills District was demarcated and notified in 1875 and the areas under KAATC purely fall within the Naga Hills District including the following Reserve Forests namely; Nambor RF, Daigurung RF, Kaliani RF, Mikir RF, Diphu RF, Rengma RF, Daldali RF, Dhansiri RF, Langting Mupa RF and Lumding RF which were transferred from Naga Hills District to the then Nowgong and Sibsagar districts of Assam, the statement also said.
Further, the UNTABA has urged the Government of India to go back to the history and acknowledge the same if its intent was to really bring about “permanent political settlement” with any ethnic community in the North East.
The UNTABA asked the Government of India to instead adopt proactive policies so as to review the North East Reorganization Act of 1971 in its entirety and effect necessary amendment so that any political agreement/arrangement could be made with permanency.