NIA summon order irks NSCN (IM)
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, December 15 2012: Chairman of the NSCN-IM Isak Chisi Swu has cautioned that the Government of India's inclination to impose its 'internal law and order system' in the course of the ongoing political dialogue will jeopardise the peace process.

Isak Swu was reacting to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had served summon notices to top NSCN-IM leaders a few days ago on certain matters.

Significantly among the cases which the NIA has reportedly taken up involving NSCN (IM) cadres is the ambush laid on the convoy of the then late MLA from Phungyar AC, Wungnaoshang Keishing on April 15, 2011 .

Seven people, including six security personnel and one civilian driver were killed in the ambush at Riha village under Litan police station.

The late MLA had then escaped unhurt.

Isak Chisi Swu said this while delivering an address at the outfit's winter session of the Tatar Hoho (Parliament) which began on December 14 .

"Fifteen years of unrelenting negotiating between the Government of India and the NSCN has to a great extent brought both the parties much closer bearing in mind the decades of conflict and the military oppression of the Naga people with the sole purpose of driving the Nagas into submission," the NSCN-IM chairman said.

Isak Chisi Swu

However, the paradigm shift in the policy of the Government of India to embark on a political negotiation with the Nagas was a bold step in the right direction.

The ceasefire and the political negotiation that began on August 1, 1997 was appreciated by one and all in India and also the international communities, Swu added.

In spite of the several ups and downs in the negotiation, eventually on July 18, 2011 both the parties mutually agreed to work out a settlement in the shortest possible time.

The NSCN-IM has not wavered from the government of India this past more than a year now, the NSCN-IM leader further stated.

"We have taken the necessary steps to conduct to uphold our historical and political rights and positive understanding was created with the Congress leaders and their government that eventally paved the way for political negotiation with the government of India at the highest level without pre-conditions and outside India in a third country.

Ceasefire between the government of India and the NSCN was announced during the Prime Ministership of I.K Gujral of the Janata Dal led United Front government.

Subsequently, during the BJP led NDA government the government of India recognised the 'unique history and situation' of the Nagas.

It is crystal clear that the Nagas are ready for an honourable political settlement that is acceptable to both the parties that respects the unique history and situation of our people.

"Countrymen, in the backdrop of all these positive developments and the sincerity of the Nagas to settle the decades old conflict between India and Nagas over the negotiating table the government of India has, however, to our surprise, allowed its National Investigation Agency (NIA) to serve summon notices to various top leaders of the NSCN.

This has come as a bold from the blue and it has greatly shocked us.

The best way forward is to settle any differences across the table.

We have observed and experienced commitment from both sides.

However, the government of India's inclination to impose its internal law and order system in the course of the talk will certainly jeopardise the political negotiation that was initiated at the highest level and without any preconditions," Isak Chisi Swu cautions.

Swu then said that both parties must seek realistic ways to understand each other.

"We have left no stone unturned to negotiate respecting the difficulties of the government of India.

We are for solution, however, if any difficult problem arises we will be compelled to take the matter to the Naga people," the NSCN-IM chairman informed.