Imphal, June 24: While sustaining the expose against one another, the UNLF countered that the NSCN-IM's contention of the UN authorities 'rebuking' the former group's chairman at a Geneva session of the world body.

A statement issued by the senior publicity officer of the proscribed UNLF Ksh Yoiheiba conveyed that unlike the NSCN-IM, it will not stoop down to belittle leaders of the Naga rebel group.

Yoiheiba clarified that UN authorities in geneva instead of rebuking 'our chairman' as alleged by the NSCN (IM) facilitated him (Sanayaima) in taking the floors of the working group on Indigenous Populations and the UN Sub Commission on Human Rights for two consecutive years.

Reacting to the recent contention of the NSCN (IM), the senior publicity officer pointed out that 'inherent contradiction between the policy and goal, the wide gap between theory and practice, the wrong priorities provoking opposition all around instead of fighting the common enemy together, and the arrogant refusal to recognise the basic unity of the region by the NSCN (IM), the self-appointed 'torch bearer of the Naga struggle, stand fully exposed from their (NSCN (IM) recent statements.

Observing that the no-result 10 year old peace talk with the Government of India testify that the NSCN (IM) is devoid of consistent policy to lead the Naga people to its goal, the UNLF insisted that such basic issues are having direct bearing on the Naga struggle.

"No one in their right senses will even think of fighting a common enemy without a common purpose or goal.

Because doing so, though punctuated by insincere rhetoric of unity as the NSCN (IM) has been doing for a long time, is sheer political opportunism," the UNLF maintained while expressing its grave concern about the future of Naga struggle itself becoming the victim of NSCN-IM's wrong political line, wrong policies and wrong priorities.

Reminding that there is no room for condoning individual or groups involved in crime against humanity, Yoiheiba posed was the ethnic cleansing policy of NSCN (IM) against the Kukis a priority to resolve the Indo-Naga political problem ?.

Asserting that such genocide carried out by the NSCN (IM) is certainly not a policy of fraternal co-existence, the UNLF statement further maintained that the Naga rebel group making a U-turn and using some Kuki armed groups against the UNLF is a glaring example of manipulative politics.

Was dumping the 'Self Defence United Front of South Himalayan Region' for the purpose of peace-talk with India and then pushing all the partners into peace-talks' with India a policy of fraternal co-existence or abusing partners as bargaining factors, questioned the UNLF statement.

It further enquired 'was it in the exclusive interest of the goal set for the Nagas by the NSCN (IM) or was it an expression of gratitude to the Government of India for 'recognising the unique history of Nagas and suggested that these are basic questions to be pondered by 'our' Naga brothers in particular and the entire peoples of the region in general.

The NSCN (IM) is now disintegrating and the illusions with which it tried to pull the Naga people along its line has evaporated, primarily because of its ethno-exclusive ideology, opined the UNLF adding 'though a necessity at one stage of the Naga struggle, it has now outlived its historical purpose and its transformation into an inclusive revolutionary struggle has become a historical necessity of the time'.

Nevertheless, the UNLF expressed hope that the Naga people will once again display their traditional wisdom and judgment in breaking away from the illusions of the NSCN (IM) and bring back the Naga struggle on the right track in the spirit of fraternal co-existence among all the peoples of the region.

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