With the State government facilitating the formation of an apex tribal body of Nagaland by bringing all tribal bodies under on one platform, the Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) and Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN) have been tasked to talk to eight apex tribal bodies of the state to form a common Naga tribal platform.
In this regard, a meeting for formation of Nagaland tribal apex body was held at hotel De Oriental Grand Kohima on Tuesday. Representatives from various apex tribal bodies of Nagaland attended the meeting including deputy CMs– TR Zeliang and Y Patton; ministers– G Kaito Aye and KG Kenye; advisor Imkong L Imchen and advisor to CM Dr Chumben Murry, who is also the facilitator.
Sources privy to the meeting informed Nagaland Post that the meeting was “very fruitful” although Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) did not join the meeting. Sources said that the eight tribal bodies under the banner of CNTC and TUN would initiate the next move to form the common platform very soon.
Meanwhile, a letter which was circulated on social media, addressed to Dr Chumben Murry the “facilitator for formation apex body of Naga tribal bodies of Nagaland”, explained the stand of ENPO for not attending the meeting based on the September 8, 2023 CEC meeting resolution.
In the letter, ENPO president R Tsapikiu Sangtam and general secretary Manlang Phom appreciated the facilitator for initiating the move to bring unity.
However, they said that ENPO during the CEC meeting resolved to extend “fullest cooperation and come together with other Naga tribes to address any common issue confronting the Naga people by representing or participating as ENPO, but not necessarily under one common platform as proposed”.
On the other hand, some of those who attended the meeting, who wished not to be named, said that the tribal leaders were of the view that formation of an apex body should be done with proper consultations of all tribal bodies. Though the meeting was “fruitful”, there was no conclusive outcome as due consultations was required before formation of the apex body, sources said.
As per the proposal, the apex tribal body of the tribes in Nagaland will have three levels- tier I, II and III. Tier-I (tribal level) includes all the individual apex tribal hohos of Nagaland, Tier-II (regional level) includes the conglomeration of respective tribal bodies under the banner of Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN), Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO). As per the proposal, Tier-III will be the state level apex body to have representatives from all tribes of Nagaland.
In a post on X, deputy CM Y. Patton called upon all to “realise the strength of our collective efforts for the future of Nagaland we all envision.”
“A significant day for Nagaland as we took a giant leap towards our deep-felt desire to form a united apex body encompassing different tribes of the state to reconcile and build a shared future,” he said.
Patton expressed gratitude to CNTC and TUN for their presence in the meeting and for coming together to work towards this goal.
“As we endeavour towards this, we all must remember that trust is the key and the apex body, when formed, must address interests of every tribe with respect and wisdom. United by our proud histories and culture, this would be the dawn of new era of reconciliation. But the road ahead has challenges which unity alone can help overcome…,” he said.