Dimapur, Dec. 9 (EMN): Zeliang People’s Organisation Nagaland (ZPO-N) has claimed that it is the legitimate apex body of the Zeliang community and accused its namesake body - Zeliang People’s Organisation (ZPO) - of impersonation.
ZPO-N president Kiezen Zeliang and general secretary Kerang Dumtta have claimed in a statement that ZPO is led by some “self-styled leaders” who does not have the mandate of people and were not elected democratically or customarily. Describing it as an organisation that is “threatening the identity of an entire tribe, ZPO-N has also requested all the tribal apex bodies not to entertain the ZPO.
The statement came a few days after five major tribal organisations, including ZPO sent out a joint statement expressing concern on the present situation of Naga hoho.
“It (ZPO) is only a society registered under Registration of societies Act 1860 as amended vide Registration of societies (Nagaland third amendment) Act 2008 (Act no. 1 of 2009) and it is beyond any reasonable comprehension that such a group continue to impersonate the mandated ZPO-N ,” read the statement.
ZPO-N has claimed that ZPO (Kohima) is led by some individuals “who are neither mandated to speak on behalf of the Zeliang nor empowered to represent the tribe in any tribal platform” and that any statement from them “should be considered as being in their personal capacity and not in the interest of, or on behalf of the Zeliang community.”
The body has made a clarion call to all the ‘Naga tribal organisations to desist from involving ZPO’ and frontal organisations affiliated to it.’ It also said that “for other tribal organisation to accord and consider them (ZPO leaders) as representatives of the Zeliang people would tantamount to disrespecting the apex tribal body.”
“All concerned authority and organisations must take note of the authenticity of any organisation claiming to represent the Zeliang community other than the ZPO-N,” read the statement. “If there exist differences and animosity within the Zeliang community it would be our paramount duty to solve and not for any tribal organisation to take it as an opportunity presented to them to fuel further unrest and friction within the Zeliangs,” the statement added.
