The United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) stated on Sunday that Rengma, Zeme, and Zeliangrong sects of Nagas were the original inhabitants of Assam present-day Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao areas under the jurisdiction of Assam.
The association released a statement in response to media reports of the establishment of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) based on current negotiations between the Centre, the Assam Government, and several Karbi Anglong rebel factions.
"No political settlement will prove fruitful if it does not honour or is based on historical facts, especially so in the case of the present Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao areas of Assam where the original settlers are Rengmas, Zeme and Zeliangrong Nagas," UNTABA president Hukavi T Yeputhomi and general secretary Imsumongba Pongen said.
The UNTABA went on to say that any political settlements reached with "immigrants" or "late settlers" can never bring peace and tranquillity in these areas.
The association suggested that the Centre take a proactive stance to evaluate the North East Reorganization Act of 1971 in its entirety and make any required revisions so that any political agreement/arrangement may be made permanent.
The UNTABA commended the Centre's and the Assam Government's intentions for their efforts to reach a peaceful political solution with various rebel factions.
According to UNTABA, the British authority entered the Naga Hills in the late 1830s and began collecting taxes from Naga communities in 1837.
"When they came to learn that all these areas were inhabited by the Nagas, they declared it as 'the Rengma Naga Hills' in their official gazette in 1841," the UNTABA said.
It said that in 1853, a sub-divisional headquarters was built in Asaloo, which is now part of the Dima Hasao district, to make administration of the Naga territories more feasible.
"Then to bring about more Naga tribes directly under its administration, the Naga Hills District was created in 1866, headquartered at Samaguting, the present Chumukedima. To avoid inconveniences and prevent further complications, a separate and distinct boundary line for the Naga Hills District was demarcated and notified in 1875," the association added.
It went on to say that the KAATC areas are entirely within the Naga Hills District, including the reserve forests of Nambor, Daigurung, Kaliani, Mikir, Diphu, Rengma, Daldali, Dhansiri, Langting Mupa, and Lumding, which were transferred from the Naga Hills District to the then Nagaon and Sibsagar districts of Assam.
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