Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 11
Breaking its long silence over the stalled peace talks, the NSCN (IM) has taken serious note of what it termed as “10 years of political talks without finding a solution” and questioning India’s sincerity “in making a meaning of the Indo-Naga ceasefire”. “Gen (retd)” VS Atem Emissary to the Collective Leadership in a rare political statement pointed out that “this delayed solution or delaying tactics” was being done “deliberately under one pretext or the other”. “The deception of highest order is still a practice by India behind the Indo-Naga political talks, not willing to adhere to the spirit after the signing of the Indo-Naga ceasefire”, Atem stated.
Citing proof of the Government of India’s ‘insincerity’, the NSCN (IM) pointed out that there are about 100 NSCN members killed by the Indian Armed forces. Arms were also seized at random or on ‘flimsy grounds’. Even NSCN officials who are involved in the peace process were also arrested or harassed for reasons not sanctioned under the present political process.
The senior NSCN (IM) functionary went on to make charges against the intelligence agencies and pointed to what it described as “the pre-determined game plan of India against the NSCN”. It stated that ever since NSCN (IM) ‘took control’ of the Naga movement “India has been supporting factional groups and harboring the leaders using all inconceivable means”. “Transportation of arms of the K-group is done in an organized manner under the tacit support of the intelligences agencies”, Atem stated while adding that numerous evidences are available to support these charges against India.
It was alleged that in order to further destroy the NSCN (IM), the “intelligence hands played the communal card with great precision”. “They incited one Naga tribe against another. ‘Quit notice’ has not come from anywhere but from IB and RAW through Khaplang group. ‘Excommunication’ issue was also generated by these agencies but executed in the name of Sumi Hoho”, it was alleged. The NSCN (IM) stated that “going beyond and knowing no limit to damage the Naga’s socio-political stability these two notorious intelligence agencies are poking its nose in the Church related issue to throw spanner in the works of the Church bodies on factional line”.
While pointing out “instances which really put to test the NSCN's nerve”, Atem stated that the “most glaring case is the stationing of all the declared terrorist groups in the India-backed Khaplang camp at Khehoi” and that “these are the different face of India on the issue of Indo-Naga political peace process and its much hyped voice against terrorism”.
The NSCN (IM) also drew parallel with India’s handling of the Kashmir issue. “This also reflects similar face that speaks of India's insincerity and duplicity”, it stated while pointing out that ever since the Election Commission of India announced Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir the unrest that followed could not be treated as an isolated case of the law and order. “It is rather a spontaneous reaction of the Kashmir people against the Indian-imposed election. Because in the eye of the Kashmir people this is a serious dilution of Kashmir issue, and they have every moral authority to call for the boycott of the polls scheduled for the state”, the NSCN (IM) stated.
“Significantly, they have been carrying on a democratic poll boycott campaign in Srinagar and the Election Commission has also signaled that voting in elections was as much a democratic right of the people as the right not to vote. Ironically, the government of India have come down with heavy hands against the pro-independence Kashmir leaders and arrested more than 100, for giving a call for boycott of assembly elections”. Some of the
senior leaders arrested are Mahammad Yasin Malik, Chairman, Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, Maulana Showkat, Jamaat Al Aadees, Shabir Ahmed Shah, President Democratic Freedom Party, Naim Khan, President, National Front, Ashraf Sarahi, General Secretary, Hurriyat (Geelani), Dr. Hubbi, Vice President, People's Party (Ghani Lone's party), Somji, Muslim Conference and Ayeshe Indrabi, women's organization.
The NSCN (IM) stated that these leaders are detained in different jails in Jammu, in total violation of democratic spirit. Yasin Malik was arrested under the Public Safety Act, and slapped with various charges including "inciting youth against army during the Safre-Azadi" and "going on hunger strike (following Gandhain methods)", it stated while pointing out that it was “terrifying to observe that the independence movement in Jammu & Kashmir has been countered with deceit and betrayal”.
All the parties, JKLF and Hurriyat support the peace process but have the common demand that Kashmiri people must be included in the talks on the future of the Kashmiris and the dispute cannot be settled between India and Pakistan alone, the NSCN (IM) reasoned. “They are also raising objection to the inclusion of political parties in the peace process, particularly those parties that do not even acknowledge the political status of Kashmir as a disputed territory”.
The NSCN (IM) stated that as part of his peaceful campaign, Yasin of JKLF has declared ceasefire since 1994 and has been mobilizing from village to village getting signatures in support of Kashmir independence movement that must be decided by the Kashmir people.
