NSCN-IM fires salvos at NK Singh over CF limit remarks
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, July 23 2014: The blow-hot and blow-cold relationship between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM took a fresh turn today with the Naga outfit strongly reiterating that the cease fire is without territorial limits but the Government of India's Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) chairman Lieutenant General (Rtd) NK Singh had stated that Manipur does not come under his jurisdiction.

On July 22, NK Singh in a press release had said the Manipur Deputy Chief Minster and Home Minister Gaikhangam had stated that the cease-fire does not extend to Manipur and "This is the ground reality and should put to rest any doubt in this matter" .

"The NSCN-IM camps in Manipur are not designated camps.

They are 'taken note of camps' and are existing as ambiguous legacies of the past," NK Singh added.

Reacting to this NSCN-IM's Cease Fire Monitoring Cell (CFMC) convenor Kraibo Chawang while addressing media persons in his office today said that June 14, 2001 Bangkok agreement which said that the cease fire is without territorial limits still stands.

That agreement was signed by K Padmanabhaiah representing the Government of India and Th Muivah representing the NSCN-IM.

Again, on December 8, 2002, according to Kraibo Chawang, when NSCN-IM leaders Isak Swu and Th Muivah met the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Osaka in Japan a topic on the cease fire was discussed to which the then Prime Minister said, "Where there is a fighting there will be cease fire and it was the nature of cease fire as per the agreement entered on June 14, 2001" .

The NSCN-IM leader also recalled North East Sun magazine executive editor Deepak Deewan's interview with the then New Delhi's interlocutor Swaraj Kaushal on September 13, 1998 in Paris.

When Deepak Deewan asked Swaraj Kaushal whether the cease fire covers Assam, Nagaland and Manipur the latter replied that it covers even in Delhi and upto Paris, Kraibo Chawang further cited.

Kraibo Chawang then recalled that in the year 2004 when 13 NSCN-IM leaders including himself were arrested near Kangpokpi, Sadar Hills in Manipur by the state security force personnel the then Union Home Minister L.K.Advani intervened and the NSCN-IM leaders were released the following day.

The seized weapons of the NSCN-IM leaders were also returned by the Manipur government to the NSCN-IM, Kraibo Chawang added.

The 13 NSCN-IM leaders including the outfit's Home minister A.K.Lungalang were heading for Tamenglong for a meeting from Dimapur via I.T.Road when the Manipur security force personnel waylaid them just after crossing Kangpokpi.

These 13 NSCN-IM leaders were brought to Imphal.

But the following day they were handed over to Government of India's CFMG chairman Lieutenant General (Rtd) R.V.Kurkani by the Manipur government.

Kraibo Chawang further cited the March 16, 2002 Chandel district incident where 11 cadres of NSCN-IM were killed by Manipur security force personnel.

He said in that incident too all the weapons of NSCN-IM that were taken away by the Manipur security force were returned to the Naga outfit.

"That settlement was also done in the spirit of the existence of the cease fire," the NSCN-IM leader stated.

"If the cease fire is not 'without territorial limits' then how can talks be held in New Delhi or elsewhere between the Government of India and the NSCN?" ridiculed Kraibo Chawang saying that there will be gun-battles every time both the representatives of India and NSCN-IM meet in Delhi or in Amsterdam or any other place.

"If the Government of India has assigned Mr NK Singh only for Nagaland then that is his problem," the NSCN-IM leader further stated.

Kraibo Chawang then alleged that NK Singh has been used by some vested interest Indian officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as their tool.

"One thing must be made clear that the Nagas are not at the mercy of the Government of India.

We are for the rights of the Nagas and for their cause," the NSCN-IM leader stated.

"Will the people believe what the Prime Minister said or that of the chairman of the CFMG (NK Singh)?" Kraibo asked.

He then said the NSCN-IM has become the victim of the cease fire.

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