Dimapur, September 30 : A Zeliang organisation has rebutted the statement of their namesake over the issue of recognition given to the Rongmei community. The Zeliang People’s Organisation Nagaland issued a press release in response to Zeliang People’s Organisation Nagaland on Friday. “The Zeliang People's Organisation is compelled to issue a clarification regarding the organisation so as the Naga people are properly enlightened in the light of a recent press release issued by the so-called Media Cell of ZPO supporting the tribes which are against the recognition of Rongmei as a Naga tribe,” the release stated.
“This itself is bizarre considering the fact that the ZPO had, on September 10, 2010, written to the Government of Nagaland declaring that it had no objection to the recognition of the Rongmei community as a Naga tribe in Nagaland.”
The release stated that the “ZPO headed by our respected late leader Mr Azu Newmai, could not function in accordance with the wishes and expectations of the people and went moribund after some years except for an occasional press release or so.”
According to the statement, the Zeme Council held a meeting on December 13, 2012, and decided to form a Zeliang People's Organisation in consultation with the Liangmai Nagas. “The Liangmai Council, too, held a meeting on May 10, 2013 and also resolved likewise. Accordingly, a joint meeting of the two Councils (Zeme and Liangmai) was organized on June 7, 2013 and a decision to form an organisation was formally resolved and an electoral college comprising of all recognised and unrecognised Zeliang Naga village council's chairmen under Peren district, including the Presidents of the Zeme and Liangmai Councils, was set up.” The organisation stated: ‘At the general meeting at Jalukie town on June 21, 2013, which was attended by 72 village council chairmen in Peren district, Mr Kiezin was duly elected as President and Mr Kerang Dumta as General Secretary along with several other leaders to hold the various posts of the Organisation. Thereafter, ZPO had been functioning smoothly till date.’
The release also claimed that “our organization, which was formed by the mandate of the public of Peren district is called Zeliang People's Organisation, and there is no dispute among the established Zeme and Liangmai Councils of Nagaland, and the statements of such self-styled organizations which exist without public mandate should not confuse the Naga people.”
