Factionalism ghost continues to haunt NSCN
Defectors float UNPC in the face of IM group
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19: Defecting from NSCN (I-M), a new outfit christened as United Naga People's Council (UNPC) has been reportedly floated since April 30 this year with the sworn objective of eliminating NSCN (I-M) from Manipur.

Announcing this while talking to mediapersons in a remote hill area today, president of the newly floated outfit SS Max said UNPC has been formed after defecting from NSCN (I-M) in the interest of ensuring lasting peaceful co-existence among the hill and the valley people of Manipur.

However, there is no question of blaming the NSCN (I-M), NSCN (K) and NNC on this account, Max added.

Secretary general of UNPC Lansha, who was also present at the occasion, disclosed that efforts were on for the last two-three years for formation of such an outfit but the same could not be executed.

The secretary general of the UNPC (L) and the president while talking to the media, Monday

Subsequently, with the co-operation and support of some senior officers of NSCN (I-M), UNPC was finally started its operation on April 30 this year to provide a platform for all the Nagas living in Manipur, Lansha said, adding that henceforth the decision taken by UNPC on causes of the Nagas would be final and abiding.

Enumerating on the aims and objectives of UNPC, Lansha said his outfit strongly condemned sponsoring of Naga organisations by the NSCN (I-M) to disturb the integrity of Manipur.

So, complete elimination of NSCN (I-M) from Manipur is the sworn objective of UNPC and would work towards promoting relationship between the hill and the valley brethren of Manipur.

Seeking the support of all the people living in Naga inhabited four districts of Manipur to the cause of UNPC, Lansha pledged to work for the integrity and sovereignty of Manipur.

So far, UNPC has not established any relationship with any of the organisations in Manipur fighting for its liberation movement.

However, if the situation warranted, then UNPC would join hands with them, Lansha said.

He went on to say that even though NSCN (I-M) has entered into peace talks with the Government of India, there is no question of UNPC falling into the trap of such peace talks.

Nonetheless, whatever steps that are required to be taken up during the course of the liberation movement would be adopted in accordance to the wishes and aspiration of the people.

UNPC would also stop UNC, ANSAM and other frontal organisations of NSCN (I-M) from speaking against the interest of Manipur and its people and in case any of these frontal organisations of NSCN (I-M) speak up in defiance of the restriction, then in accordance to its arms and revolutionary penal UNPC would award them with capital punishment, Lansha stated.

Reiterating that UNPC was floated after some senior officers of NSCN (I-M) defected from Hebron Camp along with 20 others armed cadres and the armed cadres arrived at Ukhrul, Lansha informed that so far UNPC has a total strength of 70 armed cadres.

The first phase of the cadres who have been send for training have now returned from the training and to ensure full strength, recruitment mobilisation through guerilla tactics is on in all the Naga-inhabited four districts of Manipur, Lansha disclosed, adding armed council of UNPC has already been set up and the military council would be set up soon.

Among the armed senior officers, two colonels, one major, two captain and two full lieutenants and among the military officers, three second lieutenants who have served for long years in NSCN (I-M) are now with UNPC, Lansha said, while declaring that the armed cadres who have undergone training in the first phase would be now deployed in places considered to be strongholds of NSCN (I-M) for launching attack.

Steps would also be taken up for setting up general headquarters of UNPC in all the hill districts, Lansha announced.

While observing that NSCN (I-M) is now being reduced to an armed organisation of the Tangkhuls, Lansha expressed confidence that from now on all the Naga people would be coming to the fold of UNPC and extending their support to the cause.

In connection with the factional clashes of the NSCN taking place at Dimapur, Lansha asserted that after bringing together the cadres of both the factions, home minister of NSCN (I-M) Azito Chophi set up NSCN (Unification) for the welfare of the Naga people.

However, NSCN (I-M) is opposed to the move on alleged ground that it was not approved by the higher authority.

But the truth is that NSCN (Unification) has come about as NSCN (I-M) is of the mindset that whatever initiative, good or bad, should be done at the behest of the Tangkhuls, he added.