DIMAPUR, Dec 10 � Three Naga tribes � Sumis, Kyongs and the Aos � launched a �common platform� called the Central Nagaland Tribal Council here yesterday.
The Council was formed at a meeting of leaders and members from each of the communities, also unanimously elected Ntsemo Ngullie as the first CNTC president, Hokiye Yepthomi as vice president and Imtinochet as general secretary. Their tenure will run for three years.
Thirteen rounds of meetings and a series of consultations, since June 23 last, had preceded the launch of CNTC. The CNTC, with full �sanction and unanimous endorsement� from the three apex bodies � Sumi Hoho, Kyong Hoho and Ao Senden, will be �functional within Dimapur initially with it�s headquarter at Dimapur�.
Though formed only by three tribes, the CNTC will not be an exclusive Council confined only to the three tribes, the leaders said. �The CNTC welcomes any tribal hohos willing to join the common platform to strengthen its hand in its endeavour for the betterment of the Naga society,� said Yepthomi in his keynote address.
Explaining the logic behind the CNTC, Yepthomi said the leaders of the three tribes could foresee only a �bleak future for the coming generation� if the �trend� of Nagas living in �fragmented societies� were allowed to continue.
�In such a situation, the leaders took the impending danger very seriously and therefore shared the problems and thoughts in finding a solution for the last several years to bring unity and understanding amongst all sections of the Naga people and rebuild the broken Naga house.�
�Thus, we are launching the CNTC today to act as the facilitator and harbinger of unity to bridge the gap of the divided Naga house with the motto � Unity, Brotherhood and Fraternity amongst all the Nagas,� he said.
The CNTC will work for the unity, understanding and well-being of all the Naga tribes, and vehemently oppose any divisive forces which try to further divide the Naga family�, added Yepthomi.
Ngullie, in his welcome address, iterated that the CNTC was not formed �to destroy others but to build the Naga society.� �We shall never go for violence. We shall never use the organisation for violence but only for protection of the Nagas,� he said.
A representative of the Rengma tribe was also present at the launch to �observe� the proceedings.
