Kohima, Feb. 9: The visit of S.S. Khaplang, the chairman of NSCN (K), to Nagaland is enveloped in confusion with its different units issuing contradictory statements.
While NSCN (K) leaders in Nagaland said their chairman would soon arrive from Myanmar to meet the leaders of other Naga groups, Khaplang’s representatives in Myanmar denied reports that the rebel leader would visit the state.
Any suggestion of rift in the NSCN (K) file and ranks was refuted by NSCN (K) leaders at Khehoi designated camp near Dimapur. “No there is no difference between Khaplang and us,” Azheto Chophy, the convener of the Naga National Political Advisory Council, told The Telegraph. The council is the highest policy-making body of the outfit operating from Khehoi camp.
Most of the top functionaries of the NSCN (K) are from Nagaland and they operate from the Khehoi camp though the council headquarters of the outfit is in Myanmar.
Asked whether differences had cropped up in the group of late, Chopy rubbished the claims and said the NSCN (K) was still intact. He said some of his colleagues had gone to Myanmar to bring Khaplang to Nagaland to meet the leaders of other groups in an attempt to push ahead the ongoing Naga reconciliation process, spearheaded by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).
“Our chairman is willing to come. There is no division,” Chophy reiterated. He, however, said Khaplang had taken strong exception to the skirmishes unleashed by the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) from time to time.
“Our chairman is unhappy with the NSCN (I-M) group for violating the covenant of reconciliation that was signed by NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu, Khaplang, and the president of the Federal Government of Nagaland (S), S. Singnya, in 2009,” he said.
The NSCN (K) recently held a general council meeting at Khehoi over Khaplang’s visit. It was chaired by the outfit’s general secretary, Kitovi Zhimomi.
“Our chairman is committed to the Naga reconciliation if leaders of other groups, particularly Swu and Muivah, are steadfast to the covenant of reconciliation,” Chophy said.
However, Myanmar-based NSCN (K) spokesperson P. Tikhak said in a statement, “There is no truth in it that the chairman of NSCN (Khaplang) has consented to meet Isak-Muivah. Unless the historical and the political rights are honoured, there is no question of any meeting.”
He cited Swu and Muivah’s exclusion of eastern Nagaland (Myanmar) in the current talks with the Centre as the main reason for Khaplang’s unwillingness to come to Nagaland. He said the NSCN (I-M)’s 31-point charter of demand placed before the Centre mentions that the eastern part of Nagaland would not form a part of the current peace negotiations. He said Khaplang was against such secret agenda talks. The outfit said it would never compromise with its demand for sovereignty.
Chophy said, “Naga people want Swu and Muivah to be transparent in their talks over the 31-point charter of demands.”
The NSCN (K) has repeatedly approached the Centre for talks but Delhi has not yet responded to this.
The NSCN (I-M)’s stand is that any acceptable and honourable solution to the protracted Naga political problem would be taken with the consent and approval of the Naga people.
Swu, who is currently in New Delhi, said he had come to India to strengthen the Naga reconciliation process and reiterated his group’s commitment to reconciliation.
Rev. Wati Aier, the convenor of FNR, also said the Naga rebel leaders would meet soon.
