NSCN/GPRN says GoI has violated CF ground rules
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 16 (MExN): The “unjustified imposition” of the Government of India on the NSCN/GPRN collective leadership’s visit to Zunheboto has already affected the ongoing peace process, a leader of the NSCN/GPRN has asserted today.
Convener of the NSCN/GPRN steering committee, “gen (retd)” VS Atem, said so in response to a query during a press conference on Monday. Addressing media persons at the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell office in Dimapur, Atem said that the collective leadership was determined to “meet the Naga people” even without the permission of the Government of India. Asked whether such a move would create problems, he responded, “We will face the consequences.” He stated that the NSCN/GPRN was not only ‘surprised’ but also “totally dismayed” at the way the Government of India ‘was trying to deal with the Naga people.’
Atem said that the Government of India is ‘a victim of contradictions and insincerity’ and the “GoI is yet to shed off the trail of treachery.” He claimed the Indian government had violated the ceasefire ground rules if the recent letter sent from Ceasefire Monitoring Group laying down terms and conditions for the Zunheboto visit was within the knowledge of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Atem said that the officiating chairman of CFMG, Colonel Rajwant Singh, IGAR, had ‘abused the CFMG office’ by writing to the NSCN in the capacity of a full time chairman. According to Atem, an officiating chairman cannot function in the capacity of a full time chairman but Colonel Singh acted like one “and that is violation and abuse of his office.”
The NSCN leader then said that the CFMG’s letter made it clear the Government of India was attempting to ‘keep the Nagas away from the NSCN/GPRN,’ which has been in political dialogue with India for more than 14 years. Atem claimed that the proposed visit to Zunheboto was not just to return to one’s home district but mainly to interact with the people and “apprise them of the ongoing reconciliation process and the progress of peace talks which has reached a crucial stage.” He referred to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring that India was ready to ‘walk extra mile to find solution’ which would be “outside the box.”
‘As the GoI was quite eager for an early solution, the NSCN/GPRN decided to call their leaders home so that negotiation would be taken up on 24x7 basis,’ Atem asserted. “But now we have found through the CFMG letter that India wants to keep us away from the people.” He claimed that the NSCN was concerned about the security of its collective leadership and that there was ‘no reason why weapons should not be carried even in concealed manner.’ Atem also described it as a “shameful thing” for India to try to “suppress the rights of the media” to keep the people informed as holding any press conference was banned during the movement and stay in Zunheboto.
He said the Indian government relayed to the NSCN/GPRN that if they accepted the conditions, then the Home Affairs ministry and Nagaland state government would decide the time and date for the travel of the NSCN/GPRN leaders.
“We are not going to Zunheboto to do the assigned job of Government of India. They (GoI) are dictating us as if we are on their payroll ... that is why we have said we cannot accept this” Atem said.
The NSCN/GPRN would not accept such ‘kind of direct assault on the traditional institution’ of “the Naga people,” he said. The NSCN/GPRN will “not take any decision without consulting the people,” he claimed and “therefore no solution without taking people into confidence.”
