DIAMPUR, MAY 3: Taking serious note of Manipur government’s decision, barring its general secretary Th. Muivah from visiting his birth place in Ukhrul, the NSCN (I-M) Monday said such decision was designed to defy the initiative of government of India and the NSCN to resolve the more than six-decade old “Indo-Naga conflict through peaceful political negotiation.”
“We consider this move as an affront to the inherent rights of the Nagas,” the joint meeting of the NSCN (I-M)’s cabinet and steering committee declared today. The joint council of the NSCN (I-M), in an e-mailed statement, alleged that the “deliberate ploy” of Manipur government to
prevent the interaction (by its general secretary) with the Naga people was a move to disrupt the hard earned peace.
Also, questioning the “double standard” of the government of India in back-tracking its commitment to the itinerary of Muivah, the NSCN (I-M) said: “We see the volt face of the GoI 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 NSCN (I-M) said that “fence-sitting policy” of the government of India would lead to “uncontainable situation” and that in such eventuality it should not be held responsible.
Asserting that it would also not remain a silent spectator if the life and existence of its people were endangered, the NSCN (I-M) urged centre to control the situation before it goes out of hand.
Pointing out that it has come this far respecting other peoples’ history and human rights, the NSCN (I-M), however, said that it cannot ignore visible forces of “antagonism”, which, it noted, was trying to undermine “our rights” and destabilize the peace-building process. Further, questioning Manipur government’s “military way solution” under the pretext of “law and order”, the NSCN said it considered such approach as 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 will seriously jeopardized the ongoing peace process,” the joint council asserted. The NSCN (I-M) affirmed that it would leave no stone unturned to uphold its commitment to protect “our people, land and historical rights”. It, however, hoped that before it was too late, the reason would prevail with “our Meitei neighbours.”