The Zeliangrong United Front has leveled charges of intimidation, exploitation, as well as violation of human rights, committed against the Zeliangrong community by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Isak-Muivah faction, and has demanded that it should withdraw its operation immediately from Zeliangrong area.
In the statement released by the Secretary, Information and Publicity, Zeliangrong United Front, the body stated that the “Zeliangrong Political Movement has traversed through decades of struggle, suffering, and sacrifices and has presently emerged through democratic and peaceful ways for the final political settlement with the Government of India.” The emergence of the Zeliangrong United Front “is the historical necessity in the aftermath of the Zeliangrong People’s Convention with the sole objective to declare and achieve the homeland for the Zeliangrong people.”
The press release clarified that the Zeliangrong United Front does not go against the Naga national movement but demands the recognition of the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Zeliangrong people. The press release accused NSCN-IM of intentionally misinterpreting this demand in order to create an opposition and exercise domination over the Zeliangrong people. The ZUF maintained that it is unjustifiable to continue its attacks on the Zeliangrong people in the name of Nagaland nationalism.
Questioning the motive of the NSCN-IM, the statement argued that the Naga political issue is the concern of the entire Naga community and people, and that according to their interpretation, the mention of the Zeliangrong people as the “other” that poses a threat casts serious doubts on the genuinity of the motive of this organisation. It is also argued that ethnic tensions existing among the people of Zeliangrong since the nineteen nineties were already compounded by the activities of the NSCN-IM.
The ZUF also denied an allegation of harassment of the neighboring communities under the guise of an anti-narcotics drive. “This is an attempt to create confusion and communal tension,” the statement said, referencing the recent murder of a ZUF cadre in the Dolang area as proof of the hostility surrounding them.
The Zeliangrong United Front declared that it will not remain passive in the face of criminal activities that seek to disrupt the advancement of Zeliangrong society and obstruct on-going political talks with the Government of India. The group appealed to the community to resist “divisive discourse” and to withdraw all military forces of NSCN-IM in Zeliangrong areas to bring about “peace and stability.”