Appeals to NSCN-K to release two Nagas
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 2 (MExN): The Naga Students Organization, Myanmar (NSOM), has appealed the NSCN-K (Ang Mai) leadership to safely release two Nagas held in the former’s custody. The appeal, contained in a letter, called for immediately releasing Chopkhiu Gangsa and Chingsan Wangham of Chop village, Londing District, “without harm respecting the principles of peaceful dialogue.”
It said, “The Naga struggle for freedom has a unique history and identity, but violations of human rights against our own people tarnish our noble cause.” Stating that arbitrary arrests and kidnapping of village leadership contradict the resolutions adopted on June 13, 2023, it said that the action not only has created fear and tension among the village people but also disturbed the students’ community, who are planning to return home for Christmas.
The NSOM, meanwhile, appealed the Assam Rifles, guarding the international border, to refrain from harassing innocent students traveling home.
Calls for unity
The NSOM further urged the NSCN-K leaders in Myanmar to reconcile. It said, “Naga people must stand united in Myanmar, seizing the golden chance to make our collective stand clear for the future,” while asserting that reconciliation is the only viable solution to conflict.
It said that the Naga public can no longer afford continued infighting and killings within NSCN-K, and harassments meted out to the public by “our own defenders.”
According to it, the pioneers of the Naga movement initiated a genuine struggle but “the current actions of both the conflicting NSCN-K are a stark departure from the principles that guided” the predecessors.
“The NSO, through various meetings, has made it unequivocally clear that ‘Eastern Nagaland Myanmar’ cannot sustain more than one organization due to the prevailing poverty and food crises. Above all, we don't encourage division and mushrooming of factions,” it maintained.
Pointing to a perceived “nefarious machinations of neo-colonial forces,” it said that their covert support to certain Naga factions, coupled with extortion and exploitation, seeks to undermine the unity of civil society organisations.
