Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 30:
The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) which is currently holding peace talks with the Government of India has claimed to have opened its foreign embassies in the Europe and South Asian countries.
The Naga outfit has also further claimed it is collecting taxes from the people by virtue of being a bona-fide Government.
In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, deputy kilonser (MoS Home) of the NSCN (I-M) V Horam informed that offices of the foreign embassies of the Government of the underground outfit have been set up so far in at least 8-9 European and South Asian countries.
When insisted on naming some of the countries where the said foreign embassies have been opened, the deputy kilonser, however, only repeated that they have been opened in the European and South Asian countries.
To another query on the names of the countries which have recognised the Government of Republic of Nagalim of NSCN (I-M) as a bonafide Government, Horam said �We are still struggling�.
On collection of taxes from the people, the deputy kilonser said it is being done by virtue of being a bonafide Government.
He disclosed that NSCN (I-M) has been collecting Rs 20 as house tax annually from every household within the Naga territory besides another 2 percent from the salary of every Government employee.
Maintaining that the tax being collected from the trucks is in the form of goods tax, Horam informed that this particular issue always came up during the peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M).
But the NSCN (I-M) leaders always explained to the Indian leaders that the taxes are being collected as there is a Government, he said.
Horam informed that the next round of the ongoing peace talks might be held at Bangkok.
However, a definite date has not been finalised, he added.
When asked whether the report of death of James Kuki, the kingpin behind the kidnapping and subsequent brutal murder of Baby Lungnila Elizabeth, was true, Horam said that after James was released on parole he has been coming to sign at the register after every three months.
The Kuki Inpi, Nagaland was the witness at the time of releasing James Kuki on humanitarian ground to enable him to undergo medical treatment, he disclosed.
NSCN (I-M) has not received any request either officially or unofficially from the side of the CBI for questioning James Kuki in connection with the investigation of the case, he said, adding �We come to know this matter from the newspaper reports�.