Established 1949, 14 years prior to statehood of Nagaland.
Conducted the historic Naga Plebiscite of May 1951 for Dimapur sector.
The Naga Council initially known as “Naga Club” nurtured Naga brotherhood and unity in the early days of Dimapur. It played a unifying role for all communities within Dimapur and assisted the local administration towards maintaining tribal and communal harmony and law and order situations. It strove to protect the rights and identity of Nagas against discrimination and military terror and atrocity in the early days of Naga movement in Dimapur sector. Towards 1970s the Council assumed a wider and more organized shape as more Nagas begin to settle. Common Naga property was acquired such as the present office, old Naga cemetery in 1972, Mhalie Park in 1977 named in memory of Late Mhalie Peseyie, New Naga cemetery in 2005. Naga Council became de facto tribal authority with autonomous powers to act and decide on civil/tribal issues. It has remained a time-tested Naga institution and not an NGO per se as commonly perceived or be equated with. It exercised public mandate to uphold peace and harmony among all citizens within Dimapur. The government through DC Kohima and Dimapur sub-division consulted Naga Council in matters of public dispute or welfare ventures. Naga Council was entrusted to oversee land, shops & marketing activities around railway land in 1980s. The Naga Council levied Re 1/- per round log prior to statehood to mark Naga identity and traditional ownership of land/resources which was later enshrined in the Indian Constitution under Article 371-A when Nagaland state was created.
In 1976, communal riots broke out between Nagas and non-Nagas in Dimapur. Some fell victim and died in the conflagration and many fled their homes. The administration therefore enlisted the services of Naga Council to assist in restoring normalcy. Naga Council rendered full cooperation and was largely responsible in restoring normalcy and peaceful co-habitation among Nagas and non-Nagas whose population by and large were traders and businessmen. It was at this point of time, the then ADC Dimapur issued permit to Naga Council to continue its humanitarian works with nominal levy of fees as Naga commission on imported livestock and fowls.
In 1981, one Vikuto Sema was shot dead by a Manipuri criminal Bijoy Singh at Eros Line. The aftermath of it was a communal violence. Naga Council rendered its services once again to pacify situation and restored confidence to public which was a relief both to public and the administration. Mr IK Changkija, the then ADC Dimapur renewed the permit in the same year by which Naga Council sustained its office activities to further its obligations for public welfare.
Special permits were accorded to Naga Council by subsequent ADCs/DCs of Dimapur till date, the revenue from which, although miniscule, the Naga Council was able to maintain its humble office and carry out day to day activities in the service of public. Throughout the decades there was not a year that passed without social dispute or upheaval from time to time. During these crises, the presence and efforts of Naga Council paid off well in bringing understanding among affected people.
In 1994-98, during the pre-ceasefire years, the people of Nagaland went through killings and factional clashes. The town of Dimapur became a battlefield and many people suffered and succumbed to the crossfire of factions, police and military. Naga Council stood up as the voice of conscience and instilled confidence at a time when even a democratic government in all its glory and power was placed under threat and ransom. So much so, the normal conduct of constitutional process was put on hold with the slogan ‘no solution, no election’ in 1998. The voice of Naga Council made its impact to inculcate sense at a time when it made little sense to speak for justice. The society and all its numerous organizations be it social, religion, business/corporate, etc virtually cowered in fear and silence during this period and looked upon the Naga Council especially in Dimapur to be its voice of justice and its advocate for peace and redressal of grievances.
Intervention and negotiating through the storm of social upheavals became the regular menu for the members of Naga Council in which the sacrificial contributions of the tribal leaders kept the social fabric intact. All members are appointed through respective tribal Hohos on voluntary basis.
Among its numerous services, Naga Council spearheaded for justice and peace during the following tragic incidents and military atrocities that claimed innocent lives :
1995 : Inashe Ayemi, DRDA Project Director was mercilessly murdered by 3rd Para Commandos on 7 Sept 1995 near Dimapur Govt College. Naga Council team took up the case and met the Prime Minister of India for redressal and military restraint.
1997 : Inspector Tali Jamir murdered by Armed forces in Military custody at Rangapahar in June 1997.
1998 : Thejavor Vüprü was shot dead by Army on October 25, 1998 without rhyme or reason. Naga Council team met the Defence Minister George Fernandes in November to pursue the matter for redressal.
In all above cases, the Naga Council organized protest rallies in Dimapur and submitted memoranda to the Prime Minister of India and the Defence Minister of India.
As a result of the Council’s pursuit for justice, the Govt of India pressed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into the cases which arrived in Dimapur for spot investigation. Defence documents received from Delhi indicated that the military officers guilty of excesses were tried in military courts although no monetary compensation is forthcoming till date.
All these efforts and sacrifices by the Naga Council were done to uphold justice and peace so that, although the dead will not come back alive, the public may not become victims or go through the ordeal of terror again. Naga Council gave its best to uphold truth, peace and justice for all citizens/organisations.
More recently, In April 22 2007, the Naga Council alongwith Church and tribal leaders intervened in what could have been one of Naga history’s worst mob violence in memory that burned and razed Wungram colony to ashes. The composition to violence and arson at Wungram was so complicated and lethal that at any point of time if a shooting began, there was a potential catastrophe in the making. The Police, Administration, the CRPF and even Assam Rifles column and the Firefighter column were held at bay by a mob while the colony went up in flames. More than 300 residents including women and children were under siege and faced possible massacre almost to the proportion of Mai Lai tragedy had it happened. However, while the Police and security forces vehemently demanded firing orders to unleash its fire power, it was through Providence and intervention of Church, Naga Council, tribal leaders, which brought the harrowing crisis to a peaceful end. Although massive damage and loss was inflicted to property, loss of life was prevented and further tragedy was averted through negotiation and voicing out the spirit of Naga fraternity. Finally, after the day’s ordeal, about 182 civilians including children and women were transported to the safety of Police Complex at Chumukedima at 7 pm led by Naga Council women Councilors.
Naga Council intervened further in the following conflicts : The murder of Tongpang Ao (bodyguard of ex-MP Imchalemba) in 2007, the assassination attempt of Dr. Maongwati in May 2004 and the subsequent disturbance in Dimapur, the murder of Sumi citizen at 5thMile in 2005, the torture of Imato in 2006 through instigation of a non local trader and subsequent protests, the murder of five National workers by Meghalaya Police in 2006, vandalism and mob violence between Power Department staff and Rongmei at Rongmei colony due to assault of staff in 2009, the intervention in the Sashi Ao kidnapping case through Muslim Council in to name few instances. Through all these crises, the intervention of this tribal organization brought reconciliation and resolution which averted highly volatile situation between groups/tribal hatred and communal violence.
Without further elaboration of the role and purpose of Naga Council (space is insufficient to elaborate), may it suffice and bring notice to all citizens or organizations be it clubs/chambers/unions or the Administration that the intervention/cooperation/support and services rendered by Naga Council is not an individual venture or that of a run-of-mill NGO, but it is the mandated collective effort of as many Naga tribes as possible including the efforts of many non-Naga organizations/communities that has created a positive social impact in building peace and understanding in a complex society such as Dimapur. The benefits that accrue out of the yeoman service of the Naga Council and its affiliates is enjoyed to the full by all denizens including the Administration, law makers, business community, institutions, departments, etc at virtually no price but by sheer dedication and commitment of voluntary service by tribal social workers who serve Naga Council by turns throughout its 60-year history since 1949. A district such as Dimapur is a district for all Naga tribes and a common ground for all communities. Our role and purpose is, and will be to unite all demographic composition into one and make Dimapur a city of joy. Naga Council’s singular purpose is to create harmony and peace at all times for all people.
The levy of a nominal fee as Naga commission fixed by the Government is a pittance vis-à-vis the service rendered by Naga tribes which serves the interest of the Naga people and their birthright identity in a vast ocean of sweeping cultures. If anything sets the Naga society apart, it is the unique Naga identity which is the responsibility of the Naga Council to promote and protect for all generations to come. This assumes greater relevance today when the Nagas are trudging the line of peace and sovereignty with a UNIQUE IDENTITY which is under threat inspired by inimical forces.
In the light of such background, we are amazed at the audacity of DCC (Dimapur Chamber of Commerce) which virtually lay dead to the needs of society for past 30 years, threatening the district administration by serving a 3-day ultimatum to cancel Naga Council’s permit for Naga commission that has been in force for over 30 years. What turns out more disgusting is the fact that the Administration has cowered in fear of the threat by beating a hasty retreat.
The fact that Dimapur is infested with unions extracting illegal collection is common knowledge. Fact also remains that the Administration has failed to contain the menace although its efforts are not absent. The Naga Council has voiced at the proliferation on unions and unauthorized collections umpteenth times both in the DC Conference Hall, public meetings and seminars since 1990s. It has submitted proposals to subsequent DCs for setting up expert committees to conduct study/research the illegal taxation menace so as to come out with concrete sustainable device to contain and mitigate the problem. The latest submission of the same PROPOSAL et al was submitted to the Hon’ble Home Minister Shri L. Imkong Imchen through a public Memorandum dated 9th May, 2009.
As early as 1997, it was reported that there were 103 unions in Dimapur extracting unauthorized “tax”. By 2003, the number went down to 63 unions. Currently, in 2010, it is believed there are 86 “unions/organizations" in Dimapur which, with or without a "permit" extract tax from public. A clampdown with a heavy hand would have drastically contained the menace, but there appears to be lack of political will or administrative will towards dealing with the menace. None of such “unions/organizations” have ever come forward publicly at any point of time in memory to contribute towards neither public emergencies nor members seen in civil coordination with Naga Council during crises.
It hardly impresses Naga Council about “price rise” alluded to Naga commission. Naga commission makes no dent to price rise with its 0.001 % on average into the price of items granted. This is to say there is ‘zero’ effect. It is pertinent for Administration to investigate the cause of price rise by checking the activities of 86 ‘unions’ believed to be operating in Dimapur as well as unscrupulous/unfair trading practices. In order to check price rise and prove the culprits, we propose a body of experts drawn from Govt/semi-Govt/NGO/Retd Judges/Market experts be appointed as early as possible. This will throw light to the true nature of illegal collections going on in the commercial hub thereby enabling Administration to deal with the issue of price rise effectively.
Issued by Naga Council Dimapur.
26/07/2010
