Standing up for their rights

While strongly opposing pro-Dimasa recommendations made by the state government's committee, non-Dimasa students seek their right to citizenship in Cachar hills of Assam.
Deiphibiang Kharkongor and Gargi Parichha Delhi

Joint Action Committee (JAC) of North Cachar (NC) hill district of Assam, Delhi, registered protest at Jantar Mantar on March 25 to oppose decision of the Assam cabinet to change NC hills' neutral district nomenclature from 'North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council' to 'Dima Hasao District' instead.

Dimasa tribe comprises a majority of 43 per cent of the total hill population, while other indigenous tribes like Biete, Hrangkhawl, Hmar, Kuki, Karbi, Vaiphei, Zeme Naga, Jaintia and Khelma, though individually outnumbered, together form about 57 per cent of the total population.   

During past seven years, an attempt to create a Dimasa homeland has disturbed life on NC hills with infighting between Dimasas and non-Dimasas. Dimasa armed groups comprise Dima Halam Daogah Nunisa (DHDN) led by Pranab Nunisa and Dima Halam Daogah Jewel (DHDJ) or the 'Black Widow' led by Jewel Garlosa. Three major conflicts have taken place between Dimasa-Hmar (2003), Dimasa-Karbi (2005) and Dimasa-Zeme Naga (2009), claiming many innocent lives and displacing hundreds of frightened souls.

The government of Assam appointed a group of ministers' committee on September 9, 2009 to resolve the impending conflict in the hills. This committee submitted its report on February 5, 2010, recommending the formation of 'Dima Hasao District'-a demand raised by Dimasa tribe itself! Further, it recommended Dimasa to become the mother tongue of the newly suggested district with additional privileges of appointment to government jobs 'reflecting the majority population pattern.'

Reacting to such recommendations, the non-Dimasa tribes suggest that any bifurcation of NC hills should lead to formation of two districts-- one for Dimasas and the other called 'NC hills' for the remaining non-Dimasa indigenous tribes.
General Secretary of Hmar students' association Thlirnawnmawi Puruolte says, "If the Assam government can demarcate a separate district for Dimasas then why not for the non-Dimasas?"

The JAC demanded that the government's committee should be immediately scrapped after declaring their recommendations 'null and void'. Spokesperson of Kuki students' organisation L Haokip says, "We appeal to the government that the committee should be done away with since it favours Dimasas alone." We want to tell the government of India that this generation of tribal communities can speak up and fight for its rights, he said. The students' committee urged the Union and the Assam state government to take stern actions to prevent future ethnic conflict in NC hills. 

Leaders of Indigenous People's Forum of NC hills met Home Minister P Chidambaram the following day in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum. They apprised him of problems faced by non-Dimasas while submitting their demands to him. The minister promised to look into their grievances and asked the chief minister of Assam to solve their problems at the earliest.