DIMAPUR, JAN 26 (MExN): Slamming its rival, the NSCN-K today said “instances such as the brutal and inhuman torture and subsequent killing of Late Neon (Vikuto) has added more salt to the wounds that are yet to heal.”
“The IK’s vicious acts and contradictory statements thereafter have become regular and clear to every Nagas,” Akato Chophi, UT-1Supervisor of the NSCN-K said in a release.
“Inhuman torture meted out to late Neon Sumi going to the extent of skinning him alive though he is a non-combatant deserves judicious implementation of internationally formulated rights and privileges,” the Supervisor said.
Neon was skinned alive, his toes and fingers removed of nails, his vital internal organs damaged to the extent that his mortal remains were concealed to be buried and never to be seen by his family or friends for last rites, Akato said, and questioned, “Is this not a new culture then?”
By comparing the death of Neon to that of Jasper, the NSCN (I-M) has come down to such a level that tactics of warfare have been forgotten and instead given way to barbarism and cruelty to own fellow beings, he said. “As a member of a movement striving for sovereign Naga nation, it is the duty of each cadre to lay down one’s life and that was amply exemplified by both Neon and Jasper.”
Maintaining that armed combatants of various conflicting parties need to be guided by “Ethics of warfare” as in “context of our modern, enlightened scenario,” Akato said “Crossing boundaries of internationally regulated military and moral approaches in treatment of prisoners of conflict by IK is nothing but an act of terrorism.”
“Justice has therefore been demanded and international intervention sought against atrocities perpetrated by Indian Armed Forces and Political instruments upon the Nagas, where as quite appalling is the fact that rather then upholding these aspirations, IK has become perpetrator of these same enemy’s tactics.”
Akato said that in the context of the Nagas, despite divisions and infightings, “it has been our ethos as struggling people to portray our sufferings to the world in the true spirit of nationalism and revolution, for which the Nagas has been trying to draw attention of international communities on the basis of UN declaration of Universal Rights (Human Rights) and Geneva’s convention of Prisoner of War status.”
He termed as ridiculous the accusation of the NSCN (I-M) which says he created history by announcing a bounty for any person providing information on Major Ape and Kakuho Assumi. “Instead, the NSCN (IM) have been making history in Naga society by inhumanly torture and eliminating physical evidences of fellow Nagas.”
“By terming such acts committed by major Ape and Kakuho Assumi as ‘Government’s’ doings, let me ask if acts meted out to Keviletou, Naga Hoho Vice-President and Rev. Lorou, CBCC’s Field Executive Secretary by the IK boys were acts of the ‘Government’?” he questioned.
Therefore, Akato said, the question of withdrawal of the announced bounty by the GPRN, NSCN (K) cannot be retracted. “I also share the grief and pain with the family members of Neon and extend the Government’s and People’s Army of Nagaland’s solace to the bereaved family.”
