NSCN(IM) seeks all-out support for peace deal

Outfit to hold meeting with Naga groups, MLAs

At a time when different NSCN factions have expressed their disagreement over the NSCN(IM)-Centre framework agreement signed on August 3, the NSCN(IM) is trying its best to gather support from cross section of Naga society.

On August 25, a crucial Naga consultative conclave on the peace deal would be organised at Camp Hebron, the council headquarters of the group, 35 km from Nagaland’s commercial town of Dimapur.

NSCN(IM) in its bid to reach out had sent an invite to all church leaders, leading NGOs, civil society activists, students and community organisations of different Naga tribes, sources informed Deccan Herald.  

They said that the conclave is aimed to influence upon the Naga society to back the NSCN(IM) on the peace accord. All the members of the collective leadership of the group, the ‘ministers’ (known as kilonsers locally) of its revolutionary government and its top armed-wing commanders will attend the meeting, source added.

The civil society groups would include most of the tribal Hohos (apex bodies). NSCN(IM) has kept this meeting exclusively for the Nagaland based tribal bodies and had kept out all the other Naga groups from Assam , Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, to avoid complications, sources added.

The meeting holds significance after the NSCN(KK) and the NCC, two other Naga militant groups said they would not support the NSCN(IM) deal. Even the Sumi Hoho, the apex body of the Sumi tribe has decided not to attend the meeting after NSCN(IM) cadres allegedly molested a woman from the community on December 2013.

This meeting will be followed by the round of consultation between the NSCN(IM) leadership and all the 60 MLAs  of Nagaland Assembly.

According to sources from Kohima, the MLAs led by Assembly Speaker Chotisuh Sazo would meet the NSCN(IM) leadership on August 26 at Chumukedima Police Complex near Dimapur.