Nagaland: NSCN(IM) to carry on, rivals oppose

Dimapur, Jul 29: The NSCN(IM) will carry on the Naga peace process, but the rival NSCN(K) spoiled the party by washing off their hands from the process.

As the ''Consultative meeting'' of the Naga leaders in the fortified Camp Hebron of the NSCN(IM), near here, had been going on in the presence of the NSCN(IM) supremo Isak Sishi Swu and Th Muviah, it is clear that NSCN(IM) would continue the path of negotiation despite serious objections by many.

The ceasefire terms end on July 31 and on that day the NSCN(IM) would formally announce the extension after the next round of talk with the Centre's representative on that day, said a NSCN(IM) source at the Camp Hebron.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (K) rejected the whole process, saying the NSCN (IM) are not the true representatives of the entire Naga community and it only represents a section only.

Notably the local media had also cold-shouldered the whole peace talk process so far.

''It is a plan by the NSCN (I-M) to show to the Centre that the Nagas are united,'' a statement issued by the outfit said.

The Camp Hebron witnessed the consultative meeting where various speakers seeking extension of ceasefire expressed serous displeasure at the lack of substantial progress in the peace process towards the greater Nagalim.

As the Naga people at large had been demanding transparency in the peace talks, NSCN(I-M) organized the 'sixth Naga consultative meet' at its headquarters, about 40 km South of Dimapur, where hundreds of people representing various tribal councils, women groups, civil society organisations and churches participated in the deliberation before the ensuing peace talks.

The centre-NSCN (I-M) Truce had completed ten years and during this period over 50 rounds of formal and informal peace parley were held between the two sides both in India and abroad. The NSCN(IM)'s deputy minister for information and publicity, Alezo Chakhesang, said different Naga organisations wanted Delhi's guarantee for ''an acceptable and honourable'' solution before taking any decision on extending the ceasefire.

'' The Naga NGOs are not happy with the way the Centre has handled the Naga issue over the past 10 years,'' he aded.

Further, if the ceasefire was extended, it should cover all Naga-inhabited areas, including those in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, he stated.

Over 5,000 delegates, representing the tribal Ho Hos (apex tribal councils), village chiefs, churches from Naga-inhabited areas in Myanmar, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh attended the meeting.

Earlier, addressing the meeting, NSCN (I-M) president Isak Chisi Swu said the meeting had been organised to seek the people's mandate on whether or not to extend the ceasefire.

But the NSCN(K) did not think so. ''NSCN-K understands the desire of the people for peace among the Nagas and would have attended the meeting and deliberated upon wide-ranging issues, if it had been invited and the venue was Kohima instead of Dimapur,'' Akato Chophi, a senior NSCN-K functionary said.

The NSCN-K said any move to foster understanding and subsequent peace pacts among different rebel factions by the forum or any organisation should be done at a ''neutral place'' like Kohima, Zunheboto or Mokokchung and be backed by all groups, irrespective of factions or tribal and church affiliations.

'' The GOI representatives should be well aware that NSCN (IM) alone does not and will never represent the wishes and aspirations of the entire Naga populace but the issue is far beyond the proportion that Nagas aspire,'' it said.

'' The real issue is of sovereignty and nothing else. Nagas are known throughout as a friendly, amiable, hospitable and peace-loving people and the NGOs should revive the age-old tradition of the Nagas rather than selling off the issue for monetary gains,'' it added.

UNI