Limalenden Longkumer
Mokokchung | August 16
Convener of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell of NSCN (IM), ‘Maj. Gen’ Phungthing Shimrang, today expressed suspicion that the NSCN (IM) cadres reported to have been killed on Wednesday, August 12, at Sakok village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, were actually captured and killed cold-bloodedly by the Assam Rifles. He was answering to a question posed by mediapersons during a press conference at Süngratsü village in Mokokchung district, Nagaland. He was in the village to attend the ‘63rd Naga Independence Day celebration’ as the guest of honour. “It is the tendency of the Assam Rifles to deny,” he added, and that it was not unusual of the Assam Rifles to provoke the NSCN. When asked if the incident could leave any negative impact on the ongoing negotiations, he responded, “When there is disturbance on the ground, how can talks go on?”
Earlier during the day while delivering his speech, Phungthing had said that the Assam Rifles tried to sabotage the ‘Independence Day celebration programme’ to be held in the village. When asked how they managed to continue with the programme despite the ploy of the Assam Rifles, he said that he had to make a lot of telephonic conversations with the people in authority including the military and the government. He said that the Assam Rifles were resort`ing to “psychological tactic”, and accused them of instilling “fear psychosis” in the minds of the people. He held the opinion that political meetings cannot be disturbed and added that the IGAR and the Home Department were both briefed about the event as early as on August 10. The Speaker of Tatar Hoho, Tongmeth Wangnao, who was also present at the press conference, said that the GPRN being a government has a history and observes various occasions and celebrations. The government of India and GPRN have been engaged in talks for more than twelve years now, the Speaker said, and wondered why the Assam Rifles tried to stop the celebration from being observed. “Today is not new. Nagas have been observing Independence Day for 63 years. Why should they take otherwise?” he questioned.
The two leaders of the NSCN (IM), when asked to comment on the ‘Naga Reconciliation process’, said that they support the initiative taken by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. They, however, said that “reconciliation should not overshadow the political process”. On the formation of the Common Naga Platform, it was disclosed that they support “anything that will bring people together”. When asked why Naga ‘national workers’ are not united, Phungthing explained that there are two forms of unity, “principle unity and physical unity”. He said that even if there is “physical unity”, it is also important “we have to be together in our thinking”.
When asked to give a reason why the Naga house is divided, Phungthing said he cannot give “the reason why” in simple sentences. He however stated that “in the final analysis, we have to understand the basic realities of what we really want”.
On the status of the ongoing ‘peace talks’, Phungthing said “the Government of India has not responded.” On the definition of the term ‘sovereignty’, when asked, he answered that ‘Sovereignty’ rests with the people. When asked if the idea of an “extraordinary political arrangement” had any bearing with regard to the “negotiated settlement” between India and GPRN, Phungthing ruled it out. He however said that they are talking for “a relationship; not on dependency, but interdependency”. After the press conference, the NSCN (IM) leaders held a meeting with representatives of the Ao Senden. However, neither the proceedings nor the outcome of the meeting could be ascertained.
