Naga reconciliation under threat
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, May 24 2012:
With reported intimation of NSCN group led by Khole and Kitovi to New Delhi seeking Naga political settlement within the present boundary of Nagaland State kicking up much ruckus, the hard earned reconciliation process among the Naga underground organisations is on the verge of evaporating.
On Thursday, the leaders NSCN-(Khole-Kitovi) group have left Dimapur for Thailand via Kolkata, but there is no sign of the NSCN led by Muivah and Swu ready to join the reconciliation meeting slated for the last week of this month.
Few days ago, leaders of another Naga underground group NNC/FGN had left for Thailand to participate in the meeting.
Wangtin Naga, representing the Khaplang group of NSCN reportedly reached Chiangmai, a city in Thailand where the Naga reconciliation meeting has been slated.
Few days ago, the NSCN group led by Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu had accused the Khole-Kitovi led NSCN of attempting to sabotage the former's 14 year-long peace process.
As they accused the rival group, the NSCN-IM had decided to refrain from the Thailand reconciliation meet of the Nagas facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) .
"The Steering Committee (NSCN-IM's highest decision making body) and Council of Kilonsers (ministers) had a joint council meeting and taken the decision that in view of the recent political development that Khole-Kitovi group has intimated to the Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary Shri.
Shambhu Singh to seek settlement within the boundary of the so-called Nagaland state, the joint council with much regret states that the said group's move is a calculated- deliberate step to sabotage the hard earned 14 years negotiations being held at the highest level of the government of India and the NSCN.
It is also an assault on the reconciliation process", was the fuming statement of the NSCN-IM issued to the media on May 14 .
"The joint council, therefore, has decided to refrain from attending the reconciliation meeting to be held at the highest level from May 21 at Chiang Mai, Thailand till clarification is made to the Naga people by the said group.
The joint council also is of the opinion that the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) is required to make its position very clear on the matter," the NSCN-IM had added.
Meanwhile, following the impediment developed between the two NSCN factions, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) had postponed the date of meeting to the May end.