Imphal, February 26 2009: The Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland), ZYF-AMN has called for maintaining of status quo in connection with the resettlement activities of the Naga-Kuki villages in the Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts as of today and not as of 16 years ago, prior to the 1993 Naga-Kuki ethnic class.

Romeo Palmei, General secretary of the youth front informed Newmai News Network (NNN) that the ZYF (AMN) in its annual assembly on Tuesday, February 24 at Longlei Apinjang, Ganglon Part-IV of Nungba sub-division in Tamenglong district resolved that "status quo should be maintained in connection with any resettlement activities of Naga-Kuki villages as of today since 1993".The assembly also resolved that the Longlei Apinjang, Ganglon – IV should remain a genuine Zeliangrong village and that Khongbung was deserted since the last 16 years.

The general secretary also informed that the Kuki brethrens had deserted their places in the Zeliangrong region way back in 1993 during the Naga-Kuki clash and so too with the Zeliangrong people of their places in Churachandpur district.

And since then the Zeliangrong people have sheltered in the then places of the Kuki brethrens and probably the Kuki brethrens in Churachandpur with the then places of the Zeliangrong people.

In these regards, the annual meeting of the ZYF (AMN) resolved the status quo of the last 16 years be maintained in the resettlement activities, informing that the Kuki brethrens had come with requests to re-live in their once places again.

On this matter, the meeting also resolved to take up a special initiative to convene inter-tribe meeting of apex tribal bodies especially Zeliangrong Union and Kuki Inpi including concerned members of legislative assembly (MLAs) of Zeliangrong and Churachandpur districts, informed Romeo, general secretary of the ZYF (AMN).

The ZYF also strongly condemned the recent firing incident of January 18 last at Thanagong-Duithanjang, Khoupum Valley of Tamenglong district between two rivals groups of underground cadres in which five persons were killed besides causing panic to the civilians.

The youth front also appealed to all concerned not to repeat such violence in public places.

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