NSCN warns Army against jeopardising peace process

NEW DELHI, August 29: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has warned the Indian Army of desisting from any action that would jeopardise the ongoing peace process and stop aiding and abetting SS Khaplang and his mercenaries. Reacting to two news items "Army warns against violence" and "CFMG meet held" in the Dimapur-based Nagaland Page on August 22, the NSCN said the "ulterior motives" of the Indian Army was questionable. It said the current ceasefire was between the Indian government and the NSCN and not between NSCN and Khaplang or between the Indian government and Khaplang. The NSCN, in a statement issued by its information and publicity wing, said the Indian Army, on its part, had miserably failed to understand that the Indo-Naga issue was not a law and order problem. Until this truth was realised, the Indian Army would be the main stumbling block in the ongoing peace process, it said. The NSCN reiterated that it has no ceasefire arrangement with "reactionary forces" such as Khaplang and the accordists (Naga National Council) who have literally become part of the Indian state machinery. The NSCN said the statement issued by the 3 Corps clearly indicated that it had, on its volition, taken the Indo-Naga issue into its hands. The fact that the Indian Army was covertly patronising Khaplang had been proved again by its own deeds. The NSCN wondered why the Indian Army or the Assam Rifles were desperately concerned about the welfare of Khaplang and his men. It felt the Assam Rifles had become the spokesperson of Khaplang. The NSCN said, "The Indian occupation forces came into Nagalim uninvited. They invaded the Nagas and forcibly occupied our homes and our rights. Who are they? Aren't they invaders, mercenaries and foreigners with a totally different mindset, culture and religion? What moral right do they have in the home affairs of the Nagas? Who are they to dictate us? Deep in the heart of hearts every Indian or for that matter every soldier in Nagalim knows that he is waging an unjust war against the Nagas." The NSCN also clarified that while agreeing on the next Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) meeting to be held only after a high level meeting takes place, nothing was mentioned about the Indian general elections. From whatever the source of the news, it said, such ulterior designs should not be allowed to confuse the Naga people on such sensitive issues. The NSCN reiterated that the ensuing general elections was totally unacceptable.