Over 4 years' detention of Ningkhan Shimray takes toll on Nagas' hope for peaceful solution: CRNS
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, March 31 2015 : Renewing its call for unconditional release of Ningkhan Shimray alias Anthony Shing, Chief of Foreign Affairs of NSCN-IM, the Committee for Release of Ningkhan Shimray (CRNS) has claimed that in the face of the continued detention of the outfit's leader, the collective hope of the Naga public is diminishing as to whether the GOI could ensure an honourable and peaceful resolution to the vexed Naga political issue.

In a press note issued by its secretary KP Ashang Tuesday, CRNS, a body comprised of 36 neighbouring villages in Ukhrul district, said that the continued imprisonment of the chief functionary of the outfit over the past 4 years and 7 months even as peace talks continued, has cast a big shadow on the sincerity of the GOI and the Naga public are gradually losing their hope for a peaceful settlement of the age-old political conflict which has caused them untold sufferings.

Questioning the motive of the GOI in arresting and continuing detaining of the Naga leader who had represented the outfit in a number of peace talks both in India and abroad under judicial custody like a criminal, the statement rued that the elders and youngsters of the indigenous tribal people have been rendered perplexed by the attitude of the former.

"There must be a conductive atmosphere and certainly arresting of the chief functionary at a time when peace dialogues are continuing does not augur well for the sincerity of the GOI toward resolving the Nagas' conflict," asserted CRNS while appealing for unconditional release of the Naga leader for the greater cause of humanity and for peace to prevail.

Recalling his arrest, the statement maintained that Ningkhan Shimray was on his way to New Delhi to attend a formal peace talk between the GOI and NSCN leaders at the invitation of the former when he was arrested on 27 September in 2010 and since then he has been languishing in Tihar jail.

CRNS then questioned if the Nagas could anticipate a solution which would be mutually acceptable to both parties under such an atmosphere of suspicion.

Meanwhile, the committee exuded confidence that given the fact that Ningkhan Shimray being a man of integrity with unquestionable commitment to the cause of his people and that his leadership had guided the Nagas in most difficult times in the past, his participation in the ongoing peace talks could make qualitative difference adding that his release then would assist in creating a conductive atmosphere for the ongoing peace process apart from restoring mutual trust between the GOI and the Nagas.

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