NSCN-IM criticises Patil's remark
Kohima, Aug 09: The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has criticised the remark made by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil during the recent Indo-Naga peace talks in Bangkok, where it was decided to extend the cease-fire for another year.
In a release here today, the outfit's Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) Ghukato outright rejected Patil's remark branding the NSCN/Nagas in line with terrorist modules.
'Never have we terrorized anyone but only struggled against the Government of India for suppressing our inalienable rights to live as a people,'' Ghukato said.
He said Patil's statement of reference to the Nagas in line with other modules of terrorist organizations elsewhere in India reflects their evaluation of the Naga people's identity, dishonouring the Centre's earlier recognition and agreed terms that enabled both the sides to embark on a truce and bilateral permanent peace initiative with reciprocal respect.
Reminding that the Naga people had agreed to enter into talks with the Centre only after it accepted the facts of Naga historical struggle for self-determination, he said the Centre had admitted and declared Naga issue as a political one and not an internal law and order problem, lifting of the ban on NSCN and excluding it from the list of terrorists, acceptance of unique Naga history, situation and conditions of the talks firmly based on unconditional terms at the highest level and in a third country.
Ghukato said Patil's remark came at a time when both the parties are focused on issues to find a solution to the impasse, the NSCN-IM asked the Centre if it was really sincere and committed in resolving the Indo-Naga political issue.
UNI
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