Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 10
The NSCN (IM) has accused Chairman of Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG), Lt Gen (retd) NK Singh of making a “last ditch” attempt to derail the peace process between the NSCN (IM) and Government of India and abrogate the ceasefire.
“The CFMG chairman is trying his level best and making a last ditch effort to sabotage the peace talks and abrogate the ceasefire for his own vested motives”, alleged Kraibo Chawang, the Convenor of Cease Fire Monitoring Cell (CFMC) of the NSCN (IM) at a press briefing held Wednesday evening at the CFMC office.
Chawang said that while GoI representatives and NSCN (IM) leaders are in hectic parleys in Delhi and are putting all efforts to hammer a solution to the protracted Naga political issue, at the ground level there are “anti-forces” at work.
“I have already written to the GoI to recall the CFMG chairman. If GoI is serious on the peace process, he should be immediately recalled”, Chawang said. He pointed out that right after NK Singh took over as CFMG Chairman, the latter has been creating problems in order to derail the peace process.
The CFMC convenor said it was because Singh claimed ceasefire (CF) was confined only to Nagaland state and denied the “fact” that CF was “without territorial” that resulted in loss of lives (both civilians and security personnel) earlier in Ukhrul district.
In March 2015 too, Singh created a serious problem by allowing the Assam Rifles to go to Beisempuikhan village to distribute solar lamp. On their way to the village, the AR personnel crossed the NSCN (IM) Camp Hebron in full combat gears resulting in a stand-off between the AR personnel and NSCN (IM) cadres, Chawang informed.
He also said though the issue of the Mukalimi designated camp in Zunheboto district was resolved, the CFMG chairman was still officially opposing it.
Chawang further alleged that the latest stand-off between the NSCN (IM) and security forces in Mon district was the handiwork of the CFMG chairman. He said the NSCN (IM) have two official designated camps in Mon district, namely at Nokyan and Pongkong. However, the NSCN (IM) cadres were not occupying the two camps but had set up camp in the deep jungles near Neitong village (adjacent to Nokyan) to check “ULFA, NSCN (K), UNLF and PLA”, he said.
Chawang said the CFMG chairman ordered the NSCN (IM) cadres to vacate Neitong and troops from the 33 Assam Rifles and Territorial Army were rushed to the area on February 7 resulting in a stand-off between the NSCN (IM) cadres and security forces. The CFMC convenor informed that the security forces also resorted to groupings of villagers of Jaboka and Neitong, the men and womenfolk confined in separate camps and not allowed to work or go to their fields for three days.
“Since Sunday last the security forces surrounded our camp. I contacted the IGAR, CFMG staff and even the Brigadier General Staff officers of 3 Corps,” he said and added that after much consultation, the stand-off was eased and the Indian security forces agreed to withdraw from the area. The NSCN (IM) cadres have also temporarily moved out from the camp, Chawang informed.
“We appreciate the good gestures of the Indian Army authorities to put off the stand-off. But there is a ‘big but’. Who created the problem?” Chawang asked.
