Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 02 2009:
Reiterating its stand for the recognition of 'Zeliangrong' as a scheduled tribe, the All Zeliangrong Students' Union - Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (AZSU-AMN) has demanded the authorities in the Central and State Governments to fulfill the long standing demand for the recognition of the Zeliangrong as a Scheduled Tribe.
In a press statement, the AZSU (AMN) said that the AZSU and the Zeliangrong people as a whole will not accept the recommendation of the Government of Manipur, Secretariat: Tribal Development recommendation letters dated 15-5-2006 and 7-7-2007 respectively with reference to Sl no.8 � Kabui, Inpui, Rongmei and Sl no.9 � Kacha Naga, Liangmei, Zeme.
The release said that the 2006 and 2007 recommendations of the Government of Manipur do not have the "mandate" of the Zeliangrong people.
It said that the Zeliangrong people have common origin and history, are a single ethnic and cultural entity descended from a common origin and linguistic roots, have affinity in dialects, have a complete homogeneity in the social system which are prove in a volume, A brief Account of the Zeliangrong Nagas, that has been brought out by AZSU with a burning zeal to keep the Zeliangrong people united in brotherhood.
Saying that the students' body will extend full co-operation to the Zeliangrong Tribe Recognition Steering Committee which was formed recently for the cause of Zeliangrong tribe recognition and thwart divisive elements, it demanded that the Zeliangrong people should be recognized in their 'collectivity' without destroying the 'individuality' of the cognate groups.