Tikhir Tribal Council responds to Tikhir Students' Union regarding selection of FNTA Interim Council Member and tribal unity.
DIMAPUR — The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) has issued a rejoinder taking serious note of the statement issued by the Tikhir Students' Union (TSU), placing clarifications before the public regarding the selection process for the Tikhir Interim Council Member to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).
The TTC stated that the controversy arose primarily from the selection process for the Tikhir Interim Council Member to the FNTA, particularly during the meeting held on March 10. The TTC maintained that core eligibility criteria framed by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) were required to be followed uniformly and objectively by all concerned frontal organisations.
It alleged that despite concerns and complaints raised regarding the antecedents and records of Mark Morekiu, the then TTC leadership and representatives of various Tikhir frontal organisations proceeded to append signatures to the recommendation forwarded to the ENPO.
At the same time, Tsangli Tikhir, whose candidature was considered by the TTC to satisfy prescribed eligibility requirements and against whom no comparable complaint was raised, was not recommended. The TTC questioned whether ENPO eligibility criteria were applied equally or if other considerations influenced the recommendation.
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The TTC also sought an explanation regarding a reported meeting convened at the residence of the Tikhir Gazetteed Officers' Association (TGOA) President Asangba in Dimapur and the participation of TSU representatives. The council stated that as an organisation claiming to represent students, the TSU leadership ought to clarify the purpose, participants, and subject matter of the meeting, stating that transparency is essential where consultations affect community unity.
Referring to the Tikhir Thanksgiving Programme for FNTA held at Kiusam on February 13, the TTC noted that the then President of TTC P Timong appealed to the community not to campaign for any particular candidate and to pray for the most suitable candidate. The TTC sought clarification as to why subsequent actions of the former leadership were perceived as favouring Mark Morekiu.
The TTC reiterated that the former team headed by P Timong was dissolved by the Tikhir general public on July 29 following concerns over organisational handling, after which a new team headed by President RT Kius was constituted. The council rejected portraying the developments merely as an internal disagreement within the TTC.
The council also placed on record that the deputy commissioner of Kiphire on August 29 appealed to the concerned Tikhir frontal organisations — TSU, TWA, TGOA, TBBA and TGBA — to jointly convene and facilitate a citizens’ general meeting involving all concerned sections and stakeholders to deliberate on the issues and arrive at an amicable, mutually acceptable and lasting resolution.
The TTC alleged that instead of facilitating such a process, the former leadership convened a meeting “for their selfish interest” on September 1. The present TTC maintained that the meeting was not the mutually agreed settlement process contemplated by the deputy commissioner and accordingly treated its proceedings as null and void.
While respecting the TSU as an important organisation, the TTC stated that the union must recognise the distinction between student welfare and wider tribal governance. The TTC urged the TSU leadership not to become party to further division by issuing statements without verifying complete facts.
The TTC reiterated that the central issue is whether the candidate fulfilled the eligibility requirements prescribed by the competent body. It stated that if the TSU believes Mark Morekiu fulfilled the criteria, it should clearly state the basis for that conclusion despite the complaints placed before the organisations and identify any criteria Tsangli Tikhir allegedly failed to satisfy.
Regarding allegations concerning Mark Morekiu, the TTC stated that while it does not seek to pronounce guilt or innocence on matters within the jurisdiction of legal authorities, formal complaints, police records, court-related matters, or tribal disciplinary proceedings cannot simply be ignored without examination before making a recommendation.
The TTC disagreed with the impression that the dispute can be attributed solely to the present TTC leadership, pointing out that the controversy dates back to the March 10 selection process, disagreements over ENPO criteria, subsequent dissolution of the former leadership, and failure to achieve an acceptable settlement.
Appealing for restraint and responsibility, the TTC called on all frontal organisations to exercise maximum restraint, stating that it is prepared to place relevant documents before any competent authority or mutually agreed forum.