DIMAPUR, Nov 3 NNN: Isak Chsi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah met rival group leaders Khole and Kitovi Zhimomi at Bade village, off Dimapur today and pledged to strengthen the Naga reconciliation process. In the past few months all is not well among all the Naga underground groups. The NSCN-K and that of Khole/Kitovi faction have been openly engaging in gunbattle while there have been a kind of diplomatic hostility between the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi. The Khole/Kitovi group of NSCN has been asserting that ‘only’ the Nagas of Nagaland will decide their future while it endorses the United Naga Council (UNC)’s demand for the Alternative Arrangement for Manipur Nagas. Inspite of this development the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi engaged in talk facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). The S.S. Khaplang faction and the NNC/FGN did not turn up however in today’s meeting though they were invited to the event. Meanwhile, the FNR in a press communique has said that the signatories of the “Naga Concordant” met on November 3, at Bade, Dimapur, on its Journey of ‘common hope’. “Today’s meeting was attended by the highest leadership of the Nscn/Gprn (Nscn-im) And Gprn/Nscn (Nscn-Khole/Kitovi). Unable to attend due to time constraint and long distance, the NNC/FGN, sent their apology,” the Forum for Naga Reconciliation said. “While their commitment to Naga reconciliation remains undeterred the meeting affirmed to strengthen and renew their commitment to each other grounded on the ‘historical and political rights of the Nagas. The FNR urged the Naga groups to respect one another and uphold our common belonging through mutual trust and solidarity at this crucial period of the Naga history. The FNR also emphasized the need to have further meetings soon,” the press communique added. Meanwhile the Naga National Council (NNC), Zeliangrong Region said it was not involved in the recent Tamenglong shoot out. It accused the NSCN-IM of trying to malign the image of the NNC which is nothing but against the people and the nation. It said the NNC was never a party to the ongoing armed conflict between the different Naga armed groups in Tamenglong district and shall never be a party involving in the killings as it is against Naga national principle of non-violence. “It will be too low or unreasonable for us as a parent organisation of the Naga people to involve in fratricidal killing among us that is detrimental to our right cause and against our genuine Naga stand. The NNC condemned the gun battle. The allegation against NNC by the NSCN-IM with a bad intention to malign its image is nothing but against the people and the nation,” the NNC, Zeliangrong Region stated.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/naga-militant-leaders-join-hands/
