Dimapur, February 11 (MExN): The divide between the Khango and Isak Sumi led NSCN (K) groups continue to widen as both groups claim legitimacy over who represents the NSCN/GPRN (K) in the negotiations with the Government of India as well as the standing ceasefire agreement.
According to reports in local media on February 11, the Khango-led NSCN (K) had questioned the credibility of the statement addressed to Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) purportedly by WC, NNPGs convener that Isak Sumi would represent the seven NNPGs in the peace talks with the GoI. Stating that Sumi had been impeached by the NSCN/GPRN (K) government and holds no authority to represent the group, the Khango-led NSCN (K) also cast aspersions as to whether NNPGs co-conveners were taken into confidence by the convener and whether the six NNPGs had consensually agreed to sever ties with NSCN/GPRN (K). If this was so, the Khango-led NSCN (K) declared that it would not shy away from becoming a separate entity to hold peace talks with the Centre.
In this context, the Isak-led group issued a statement through its MIP on Saturday, arguing among others, that the “ceasefire agreement was signed between the GoI and NSCN/GPRN (K) by its functionaries and there is no document signed between Khango and GoI.”
It held that the entire NSCN/GPRN (K) set up including the regional authorities from Nagaland and Manipur state was intact. It also claimed that the WC, NNPGs had “unanimously expelled Khango and his gang from NNPG” and stands in solidarity with the leadership of Luyanba Yimkhiung, Ato Kilonser Col (Retd) Isak Sumi and Chief of Naga Army Major general Pangging Konyak.
