By Hueiyen News Service
Senapati, May 03: The NSCN-IM has questioned the Government of India over the former's  flip-flop stand in connection with the  visit of the outfit's general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to his birth place,  Ukhrul district. in Manipur.
"The National Socialist council of Nagalim (NSCN) in its joint meeting of the Cabinet and Steering Committee has taken serious note of the decision taken by the Manipur State Government Cabinet to prevent the visit of our General Secretary, Th. Muivah, to his birth place in Ukhrul. We consider this move as an affront to the inherent rights of the Nagas. The decision of the State Cabinet is deemed to be calculated and defy the initiative of the Government of India (GOI) and the NSCN to resolve the more than six decades of Indo-Naga conflict through peaceful political negotiation," the statement of the Naga outfit said.

The NSCN-IM says that it considers the Manipur State Cabinet decision opposing the visit of the outfit's general secretary as anti-peace and suppression of the people’s rights. "The deliberate ploy of the Manipur State Government to prevent the interaction with the Naga people is a move to disrupt the hard earned peace. The divisive steps are pure and simple; a sign of naked chauvinism that does not respect the human rights of all including the Naga peoples’," it said.

The NSCN-IM further says that it seriously questions the double standard of the government of India  on back-tracking its commitment to the itinerary of our general secretary (Thuingaleng Muivah). We see the volte face of the government of India and its underhand backing of the state security forces as criminal and treacherous. Giving free rein to the forces trying to disrupt the Indo -Naga peace process clearly exposes the dubious role of the GOI. The fence-sitting policy of the GOI will lead to uncontainable situation and in such eventuality the NSCN will not be held responsible. We also will not remain a silent spectator if the life and existence of our people are endangered. The NSCN therefore urge the GOI to control the situation before it goes out of hand," the Naga outfit said, while adding, "We will negotiate on the foundation based on our historical rights. We have come this far respecting the history and human rights of other peoples’ but the visible forces of antagonism trying to undermine our rights and the stratagem to destabilize the peace – building process cannot be ignored anymore. We believe that the time is ripe to usher peace in the region. We are committed in our search for peace, however, under such state of affairs wherein peace is threatened by forces antagonistic to peaceful and honourable political solution the NSCN will be forced to take alternative measures to defend our commitment to peace."

The NSCN-IM then stated then said, "Thirteen years have passed after the declaration of cease-fire and in the process the GOI has officially recognized the “Unique history and situation of the Nagas”. It was also agreed that there will be cease-fire wherever there is fighting. We have come closer through such steps taken in the spirit of mutual respect and it is our earnest desire that the political peace process must be taken toward its logical conclusion by securing a final and permanent political settlement. However, our coming closer for the sake of political settlement and lasting peace should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness".

The NSCN-IM also said that "the military way" solution taken by the Manipur Government under the pretext of “Law and order” is highly questionable and the NSCN judge this approach a challenge to our very existence as peoples. The illogical approach of the Manipur government contradicting the very basis of the cease-fire agreements between the GOI and the NSCN-IM will seriously jeopardized the ongoing peace process.

"In view of extreme provocation from the Manipur state Government, the NSCN and the Naga people have been forced to accept the challenge offered by the communal forces that threatens our very existence. In the absence of mutual respect we have to go our own way and to the last we will stand to protect our people, land and historical rights. Be assured that we will leave no stone unturned to uphold these commitments. We however hope that before it is too late reason will prevail with our Meitei neighbours," said the NSCN-IM statement..