Two Tribes Rejects Inclusion in CNPO’s Monolith; Demand Rectification

The Aimol Tribe Union, the apex body of the Aimol Tribe, and the Kom Tribe Council, the apex body of the Kom Tribe, have condemned the inclusion of their respective tribe names in a monolith erected by the Chandel Naga People’s Organization (CNPO) on December 7 at Liwa Sarei village in Chandel district.

The monolith, unveiled by Ss. Olish Lamkang, MLA 41 AC Chandel (ST), is engraved with the names of the Naga tribes of Chandel, namely Aimol, Anāl, Chothe, Khoibu, Kom, Lamkang, Maring, Monsang, Moyon, Tarao, and Tangkhul (Associate Member). "This Monolith is erected as an embodiment and testament of Identity, Integrity, Unity, Solidarity, Peace, and a shared Vision of the Naga family for peaceful co-existence and prosperity, embracing the unique history and ancestral land," is engraved on the monolith.

The Aimol Tribe Union (ATU) has strongly condemned the inclusion of the Aimol Tribe in the Monolith of the Chandel Naga People's Organisation (CNPO), asserting that the Aimol people share no common ancestry, language, culture, or traditions with the CNPO. The ATU expressed that this inclusion is a deliberate misrepresentation that has deeply offended the sentiments of the Aimol community.

In a statement, the ATU demanded immediate rectification and called for the removal of the Aimol Tribe from the CNPO's Monolith. The Union emphasized that the Aimol people should not be subjected to an affiliation they never belonged to, and it strongly reaffirmed the tribe's autonomy as a distinct ethnic group, separate from the CNPO.

The ATU also urged the Chandel Naga People's Organisation to respect the Aimol Tribe's self-identification and autonomy, calling for the recognition of their unique cultural identity. They stressed that any affiliation of the Aimol Tribe should not occur without the explicit consent of the ATU.

The ATU reminded all Aimol tribesmen to remain steadfast in their identity and not to be misrepresented or forced into affiliations that contradict their heritage. The Union invoked Article 29 of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards the rights of minorities to preserve their distinct culture, language, and traditions.

Similarly, the Kom Tribe Council (KTC) has strongly condemned the irresponsible inclusion of the Kom Tribe in the list of Naga tribes on a monolith erected by the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation. The KTC has demanded immediate rectification, as this inclusion hurts and offends the Kom people.

In a statement on Saturday, the General Secretary of the Kom Tribe Council, Athang Kom, stated that the unilateral decision of the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation to include the Kom Tribe in the list of Naga tribes without consultation or consent has deeply offended and hurt the Kom people.

In an engraved monolith erected by the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation on December 6, 2024 (a photo of which went viral on social media platforms), several independent or recognized tribes, including Aimol, Anāl, Chothe, Kom, Lamkang, Maring, Monsang, Khoibu, etc., are listed under the umbrella of the Naga. Many of these tribes were historically referred to by colonial writers as ‘Old Kukis,’ and they are more closely linked with the Kuki ethnic groups—linguistically, culturally, and in blood relations—than with the actual Naga tribes.

In this regard, the Kom Tribe Council has issued the following key demands:

Key Demands:

Immediate Rectification: The Kom Tribe Council (KTC) views the actions of the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation as an attempt at “dirty politics” and demands immediate rectification.

Recognition of Autonomy: The KTC requests recognition of the Kom Tribe’s distinct identity and autonomy.

Removal from the List: The KTC urges the removal of the Kom name from the list on the stone.

The Kom Tribe Council has also requested the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation to acknowledge the Kom Tribe’s self-identification and self-determination, and urged all Kom people to unite in solidarity and advocate for their rights.