Naga Hoho has reiterated that the “bone of contention” between it and Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho (under the aegis of Central Nagaland Tribes Council), over the issue of recommendation for recognition of Rongmei as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland has been removed after it had withdrawn its September 22,2008 letter as demanded by the three.
Naga Hoho president P.Chuba Ozukum, general secretary Mutsikhoyu Yhobu and dy. speaker Kenyuseng Tep in a joint statement, disclosed that the Hoho had withdrawn the recommendation, at a joint meeting of its presidential council with the Empowered Committee on Goodwill Mission on November 21, 2016.
NH said it was blamed for recommending the grating of indigenous Naga tribe status to 1313 members of Rongmeis in Nagaland in 2012 by the government and for which three tribes-Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho and Lotha Hoho- dissociated from the Naga Hoho since August 31,2016. It may be recalled, that the three tribes through CNTC had issued ultimatum on Naga Hoho to rescind/revoke its recommendation to the state government for recognition of Rongmeis as Indigenous Naga tribe of the state within 30 days. When NH failed to respond and on expiry of the deadline, the three withdrew from Naga Hoho.
NH said it had only urged for recognition of the 1313 Rongmeis who had settled in Nagaland prior to December 1,1963 as “indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland” in the same way that Garos, Kukis and Kacharis were accorded as per the April 28,1977 government notification.
Further, NH said it had only supported the desire of the state government for granting indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland to Rongmeis and that the exchange of letters on the period indicated that Rongmeis settled before December 1,1963 were eligible for status as indigenous inhabitants.
NH also said its delegation met the chief minister on October 14,2016 where a memorandum was submitted requesting for reexamining the decision to grant indigenous Naga tribe status to Rongmeis and explore solution in consultation with all stakeholders etc. Naga Hoho appealed on the three tribes to join hands with it towards furthering the interests of Naga people as in the past.
NH said decision to withdraw the letter was take after its empowered committee on goodwill mission submitted its proposal on November 18, 2016 to the executive council requesting to “withdraw the expressed views and opinions of the Naga Hoho to Nagaland Government on the issue of granting status of Indigenous Naga Inhabitant to Rongmei community” in order to strengthen the unity and fraternity of Naga Hoho.
It may be mentioned that the three bodies at a meeting on September 29, 2016 while reiterating to stick to dissociation from NH, resolved that any issue pertaining to the three tribes, especially with regard to recognition of Rongmei issue, “will be initiated only under the aegis of CNTC and not separately”.