Dimapur, November 9 (MExN): The Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) and Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) have agreed on a 10-point resolution to address the displacement of villagers and territorial disputes between the two tribes in Kiphire and Shamator districts, proposing separate settlements for displaced families, administrative realignments of villages and the resolution of existing disputes.
The resolutions were adopted at a joint consultative meeting of the two tribal bodies held on November 7 at Hotel Grand Vista, Dimapur, following a meeting with the Commissioner of Nagaland on November 3 at the Commissioner's Conference Hall, Kohima.
In a submission to the Commissioner of Nagaland, the two councils stated that the resolutions were reached "after thorough deliberation on the matter for peaceful co-existence and permanent solution between the two tribes."
Under the proposed arrangement, Tikhir displaced persons from Zaonger and Thulun villages will be allowed to establish a separate Tikhir village under Kiusam administration, with the Zaonger Village Council to look after the allotment of the location. Similarly, Yimkhiung displaced persons from Pokphur village will be allowed to establish a separate Yimkhiung village under Pungro administration, with the site location to be identified by the Pokphur Village Council.
Tikhir displaced persons from Longtsonger village will also be allowed to establish a separate Tikhir village under Kiusam administration, with the Longtsonger Village Council responsible for selecting the site. On the status of existing villages, the resolution states that "the existing Pokphur Village will be a Tikhir Village and the existing Zaonger, Longtsonger and Thulun village will be a Yimkhiung Village."
The two councils further agreed that displaced persons from both tribes living elsewhere will continue to avail government benefits through their respective parent villages until the proposed new villages receive official recognition. The resolution also proposes an administrative realignment, under which "the Tikhir villages both old and new will be placed under Kiusam Block/Administration and the Yimkhiung Villages both old and new will be placed under Khongsa/Pungro Block/Administration."
As part of the realignment, Longtsonger village, currently under Kiusam administration, will be transferred to Pungro administration, while Sangtsung village, presently under Kiusam administration, will be transferred to Khong administration.
On land ownership, the councils resolved that despite residents living in different villages, "the ownership of field/kheli will rest with the individual concern of both the tribes."
The resolution also addresses the displacement of Yimkhiung residents from Sukiur 'A' village, stating that they "will not return the village." However, their confiscated properties, fields and kheti are to be returned to their rightful owners "without any condition" through the initiative of the TTC.
The YTC will, in turn, initiate the withdrawal of the ongoing related case pending before the Shamator District and Sessions Court. In a further commitment to end existing disputes, the two councils resolved that "all the existing issues between YTC and TTC stands resolved" and that they "shall not entertain any fresh issues of the similar case/nature" arising from individuals or organisations in any village.
Submitting the resolutions to the Commissioner, the councils requested the authority to consider them "at the earliest possible time on issue based without any pre-condition in the interest of permanent peace among the two brother tribes."
The submission was signed by Yimkhiung Tribal Council President Throngso Yimkhiung and Tikhir Tribal Council President P Timon Tikhir.
