Khiamnungan Tribal Council accused of Human Rights violation

A Thailand-based Rights group –– Naga Human Rights Watch (Myanmar) –– has accused the Khiamnungan Tribal Council (KTC), Nagaland of human rights violation on the Nagas in Myanmar.

In an emailed statement, the Rights group alleged that KTC members from Noklak of Nagaland went to Mëkheotjüv area, Myanmar in October 2011 and took the village elders and leaders of Mëkheotjüv area to Thsoiphu village, a nearby Khiamnungan village.

The KTC members were allegedly led by its executive chairman L. Ngon, general secretary Thangsoi, executive secretary Puchai P. M, joint secretary L. Hangthing, while the village elders and leaders of Mëkheotjüv area who were taken to Thsoiphu village included T. Yongptumiu (head GB Mëkheotjüv village), Yongpithong (head GB Tipizüvnüng village) and Jüvseleng (head GB Mëtsongvong village).

The Naga Human Rights Watch said on October 14, 2011 at Thsoiphu village, the stated village elders and area leaders were surrounded by VGs in arms and that the KTC leaders ordered them to renounce their identity (Makury) and their territory as of Khiamnugan.

“Baselessly, the KTC leaders said that Ro Tsang Jüv, the present governor of Naga Self-Administered Zone, U Hla Tun, DC of Khamti Disctrict, Myanmar also renounced their identity to be Khiamnungan,” the Right group said.

Further, according to Naga Human Rights Watch, the KTC leaders claimed that even CAWD parliamentary secretary T. Torechu had agreed that Mt. Saramati and its surrounding villages and people belonged to Khiamnungan.

“By making such statements and order the innocent folks are threatened to agree their premature proposal and sign it,” said the Naga Human Rights Watch.

It stated that even the village name Mëkheotjüv was changed and renamed as Thsangnok without the consent of the Naga Cultural Central Committee (Eastern Naga Hoho), Khamti, Makury Naga Cultural Committee (Makury Naga Hoho), Layshi in particular and the public in general.

The Rights group said it was “very sad” to learn that KTC leaders never took any official permission “in word or in letter from any parental organizations of the Nagas in Myanmar for such matter and carried out intransigently.”

Asserting though it was Nagaland regardless of international boundary line between the East and the West, the Human Rights group however said it was not appropriate to do such activity without getting permission from official bodies and organizations.

“Is it possible and appropriate to change the name of a village just in a day without any public consent? Is it possible and appropriate to let renounce one’s identity by force and threat?” they asked, and alleged that the act was a deliberate human rights violation and destroying one’s identity, which it said was equivalent to genocide.

Further, terming the act as “a serious crime”, the Naga Human Rights Watch (Myanmar) said the public were “much disturbed and sorry for such premature deeds and violating the Rights of the innocent Nagas in Myanmar.”

Pointing out that Nagas in Myanmar have been going through untold sufferings with all forms of violation and exploitation under the boots of the Burmese junta, the Rights group said they did not expect “our brethren from the Western Nagaland to do such things on your own brethren in Myanmar.”

The Naga Human Rights Watch (Myanmar) said it was “a well known fact” that Mëkheotjüv area belonged to Makury community that fell under the jurisdiction of Lahe Township, Naga Self-Administered Zone, Myanmar.

Moreover, they said Upper Chindwin Deputy Commissioner Grand Brown also made mentions of the area as of the Makware (Makury) and there was no such as of Khiamnungan in the history (c.f. Brown: 1910).

The Rights group went on to state that Makury community had been recognized as a Naga Tribe in Myanmar right from the time of the British Rule in Myanmar (Burma).

“Thus far, the Nagas in Myanmar did not experience such thing from our brethren from the Western Nagaland but only recently,” they said and cautioned that “further confusion and misunderstanding KTC will be held solely responsible for this issue and we will not let this happen again in the near future.”

Affirming that it was committed to protect and safeguard the innocent lives of the Naga people Myanmar with the help of internal and external support-organizations, the Rights group said: “We the Nagas in Myanmar are also committed for the reconciliation and national unity of all the Nagas from all over Naga inhabited area.”

However, the Naga Human Rights Watch said that such actions and violations could hinder the path and germinate further hatred and conflict among brethren instead of reaching aimed goal.

“It is to be taken seriously that it is going to affect our peaceful co-existence as neighbors,” the Naga Rights group cautioned.
It also reminded that when all the Naga leaders and organizations were moving toward reconciliation in full speed, such actions were destructive and contradictory to the aims and objectives of Naga leaders and the public.

Therefore, the Naga Naga Human Rights Watch (Myanmar) requested and urged KTC in particular and Naga public in general to avoid such violation and exploitation on the innocent people in future.