Imphal: The Joint Tribes Council (JTCM) and the councils of four Naga tribes—Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme—have declared non-cooperation movement against the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF-J) over its recent attack on the Naga Village Guard (NVG) at Bitiang village in Noney district.
In response to this “anti-brotherhood action”, an emergency meeting of all four tribes’ communities was organised by Working Committee, Joint Tribes Council Manipur on Thursday.
In a statement, the Working Committee of the JTCM stated that time and again, the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) and the councils of the four tribes have stood as steadfast pillars of support for the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF-J) and its cause, even though the ZUF-J is a non-consensual organisation, the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communities have consistently accommodated them, embracing them as they are the brothers of our communities. Yet, in the face of countless appeals and pleading with all armed groups, communities, villages, and kinsmen to shun violent actions that ignite conflict and fracture unity, the ZUF-J has instead chosen to persist in aggression and treachery, betraying the very trust we placed in them.
According to the JTCM, the Naga Village Guard (NVG), which has been wholeheartedly sacrificing in guarding and protecting the ancestral territories of the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communities against external intruders and encroachers, came under attack by the ZUF-J on Wednesday (July 22) at Bitiang village under Noney district around 7:20 am.
Strongly condemning the attack, the JTCM stated that this act of aggression constitutes a direct assault upon the security and sovereignty of the four tribes. The NVG has consistently exercised full authority in defending and safeguarding all territories with the four communities’ mandates.
“Compounding this betrayal, the ZUF-J has been found to be operating in collusion with outsider and the Narco terrorist cannibal Kuki forces the sole and sworn enemy of our communities who have relentlessly harassed, murdered, encroached upon our territory, and most recently committed the heinous atrocity of mutilating six Naga’s sons,” it alleged.
After extensive deliberation, the JTCM mentioned that the house unanimously resolved the following:
“After an extended period of robust deliberation and exchange of views, the house has unanimously resolved to declare that the ZUF-J shall henceforth receive non-cooperation; political, social, or logistical from the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communities.”
Furthermore, the JTCM said that any act of intimidation whether directed at individuals, leaders, organisations, or villages will be met with zero tolerance and will invite strict, united consequences from all four tribes’ community members acting in concert. No further warnings will be issued to any group or organization that engages in such conduct within the territorial jurisdictions of the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communitie, it said.
The JTCM further reaffirmed their support and cooperation to any group or organisation from Naga communities that steps forward to defend the territorial integrity and safeguard the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communities’ people. The four tribes Community members and its Naga Village Guard standing firmly alongside them in unity and solidarity, it said.
The JTCM also said that the resolution taken during the emergency meeting is final, binding, and will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
The house further mandates the immediate implementation of this decision and calls upon all communities’ members to remain vigilant and united in its enforcement.
The JTCM further called upon to all community members to remain vigilant, united, and steadfast in enforcing this decision.
The house also affirmed that this resolution is not taken lightly but is a necessary measure to protect our people, our territory, and our collective dignity. We stand firm in our resolve to defend our homeland against all forces external and internal that threaten our unity and survival, it stated.
The JTCM further urged all right-thinking organizations and individuals to respect this decision and to stand with the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme communities in this hour of collective resolve.