Niki Sumi group of NSCN-IM ready for peace talk
Source: IT News

Imphal, December 28 2020: After reacting to media reports of surrendering to the Indian government Niki Sumi group of NSCN is all set to initiate peace talk with the Government of India.

The rebel group which had defected from the NSCN-K led by its chairman Aung Yang, in a press statement had lambasted media reports saying that their party is on their way to surrender to the army.

It has however said that the party is looking ahead for political solution and there is no question of surrendering.

Source said that Niki Sumi at present has 52 cadres and they claimed to the main NSCN-K.However, Aung Yang group of NSCN -K claimed to be the main party and has not still come out for any kind of negotiation with the government of India.

While a ceasefire pact between the breakaway militant faction and the Government of India (GoI) seems imminent, there is still no clarity on how this new group would join the ongoing peace talks.

"The Government of India would take a call on it," the source said.

"Whether they join as a separate group with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) or whether they are asked to merge with one of the groups already in talks would depend on the numbers they can muster," the source explained adding that about 52 members of the faction have so far come overground to join the peace process in Nagaland.

Alezo Venuh, coordinator, Working Committee of the NNPGs, a grouping of seven Naga outfits, said there is no communication yet on the Niki Sumi faction.

"They have said they want to join the peace process.

We are happy, and we welcome them," report EastMojo.

After the 2015 framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M), arguably the largest of the Naga armed groups, six other groups joined the peace talks parallelly as part of a grouping called the Working Committee of the NNPGs.

A seventh group, the Khango Konyak-faction of the NSCN (K) joined the Working Committee in 2018 after Konyak, a former chief of the Myanmar-based militant outfit was ousted by Yung Aung who took over the reins of the group.

The NSCN(K) split again in July 2020 when Sumi, Nyamlang Konyak Naga, and Starson Lamkang Naga were reportedly expelled by the Yung Aung faction.

Their camp was later reportedly attacked by the Yung Aung faction, forcing them to escape.

Nyamlang joined the NSCN(R) in September.

Again as per source, whether Starson is going along with Niki Sumi is yet to be known as there are also rumours of the Starson groups having different opinion with Niki Sumi.

Sumi had already visited Indian army camp in Phek district of Nagaland in December 18 and returned back to Myanmar.

On the invitation of the Government of India to join the peace process, NSCN/GPRN established contact with Government of India to revive the ceasefire...

" .

Sumi is one of the main accused in the killing of 18 Indian Army personnel on June 4, 2015 .

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