Dimapur, June 14 (MExN): The Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) today asserted that the Naga army is fully intact under the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), Gen Th Kumchok and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lt Gen Thumching and the false notion of Council Headquarter (CHQ) and General Headquarter (GHQ) “attacking each other is totally out of question.”
Rather, it accused some expelled NSCN members of “treason” and creating lot of misapprehension and false conception regarding current problem within the NSCN/GPRN.
“To understand the truth, one must view the issue from the right angle and right prospective,” read a statement from the MIP Yung Aung-led NSCN (K), further pointing out that it had already issued press release on April 12, 2023 regarding the decision to expel three party members for “anti-party activities.”
The C-in-C and the Deputy C-in-C also issued clarification on the same day “denouncing Maj Gen Langnyei Konyak's illegal actions and defamatory statement,” it maintained, ruling out false notion of CHQ and GHQ attacking each other.
Accordingly, the MIP maintained that ‘overpowering and bribing few weak and corrupt officers” does not validate Langnyei's claim of having “full military support.”
Meanwhile, it further claimed that despite “grave mistakes committed” by the expelled members, Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) and the Naga army maintained “extreme self-restraint due to the growing concern of the local public and presence of innocent Naga army cadres in GHQ.”
It further noted that it appreciates and understands the people's appeal for peace and tranquillity in Eastern Nagaland and to achieve the same, the statement highlighted that Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) had held consecutive meetings with the Naga Cultural and Literature Committee, Naga Baptist Convention, Khiamniungan Public Organisation, Leinong Mission, Konyak Union Myanmar, Naga Students' Organization, Eastern Naga Students' Association, Tangshang Churches, Tangshang Tribes Councils Etc.
“Hence we are amazed to which Naga CSOs Langnyei is referring to when he accuse the President, Mr Yung Aung of turning a 'deaf ear',” it added.
The President himself, acting against his own conscience and protocol, convinced the party members in accepting the people's call for peace and issued a public declaration on May 20 for Peace and Reconciliation, the MIP’s statement pointed out.
To expedite the reconciliation process, the NSCN/GPRN entrusted the Naga Students' Organisation (NSO) and the Eastern Naga Students' Association (ENSA) to lend their service which they accepted instantaneously, it added.
However, instead of responding positively, Langnyei and others choose to embarked on a provocative “remarks and ultimatum,” the statement alleged.
This was not only unacceptable to the NSCN/GPRN but also an open defiance to the genuine call of the people and the peace mission failed due to “Langnyei's arrogant and aggressive nature,” it asserted.
“The expelled members have seized control of the Naga Army Headquarters for the last two months and recently they have targeted the public area to utilize the innocent civilians as human shield, thus putting countless lives at risk,” the statement further alleged.
Among others, they launched an ambush on the Naga Army near Nyanching village on June 5, leading in death of a young soldier, while on June 13, they attack the Naga Army temporarily stationed at Chen Loiyi village, it added.
According to the MIP, during the attack, the group led by Langnyei indiscriminately “fired lethod bombs into the public area” but the Naga Army did not retaliate to avoid collateral damage.
“The silence of the NSCN/GPRN must not be interpreted as our weakness,” it cautioned, further adding that the “NSCN/GPRN stands ready to face the eventuality that may harm the revered peoples' struggle.”
Respond to NSO, ENSA
Meanwhile, the Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) said that the NSO and ENSA “must stop putting the NSCN/GPRN on equal footing with the expelled members who do not have any political future.”
“Such intemperate threat and criticism coming from the intellectual community, even after knowing the whole truth, is a huge insult to the NSCN/GPRN and the on-going Naga struggle,” it added, after the two students’ bodies on June 13 warned of non-cooperation if their appeal for restraint is not heeded.
In a separate release, the MIP noted that would be a futile attempt on the part of the NSO and ENSA to expect “NSCN/GPRN to yield to the threats and whims” of Langnyei and others, adding: “The Naga struggle is too sacred and too precious to be a bargaining tool to be exchange with corrupt nationalists.”
The release further maintained that the NSCN/GPRN understands the “discontentment of the NSO and the ENSA and appreciates their tireless effort to bring peace between the two sides.”
This was the reason why President Yung Aung went ahead and signed the public declaration paper on May 20, it said.
However, when the people at the other end refuse to reciprocate with the same tone the NSCN/GPRN cannot be blame for it, the release added, calling for upon the NSO and ENSA for introspection.
“This very day, the NSCN/GPRN, led by President Yung Aung, firmly believing in God and believing in the power of love, unity and understanding, is always ready to reconcile but not at the cost of the Naga Independent movement,” it said.
Accordingly, the NSCN/GPRN urged the NSO & ENSA, not to jump to conclusion before digesting the truth and make hasty decision or the result can be counter-productive.
