NSCN says no question of retreat
DIMAPUR | MAY 7 : The NSCN/GPRN today said that there was no question of retreating or canceling the programme of their general secretary Th. Muivah to visit his village Somdal in Ukhrul district.
“If we retreat, what will the people say? It’s not a question of being determined or not. We have already decided to go. We are still waiting patiently from the Government of India side,” said convenor of ceasefire monitoring cell (CFMC) ‘Maj Gen’ Phungthing Shimrang.
Addressing mediapersons at Viswema village where Muivah is currently stationed, the CFMC convenor said that since the Manipur Government has created the situation, it was now upto the Government of India to convince chief minister Ibobi Singh.
Referring to Thursday’s incident at Mao Gate in which 2 persons were killed and more than hundred people injured in police firing, Phungthing accused Ibobi government of trying to create a situation to stall the visit of Muivah.
“We got information from the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as IGAR (South) that it was the NSCN who opened fire at Mao Gate,” he said and alleged that this was the work of Manipur government.
He also questioned the sincerity of the Government of India and wondered if the latter was not in a position to rein in Ibobi government.
Asked how long the NSCN would wait for Muivah to visit his village and whether the patience of the NSCN was running out, Phungthing said that the matter will depend on the response of the Naga civil organizations.
“We have patiently waited as per the commitment of Muivah that the NSCN will go all the way to find an honourable and peaceful settlement to the Naga issue,” he said. The CFMC convenor also expressed displeasure at the “distortion of facts” by some media over Thursday’s rally at Mao Gate. Referring to the two students who were gunned down by the Manipur commandoes in the rally, Phungthing said a news agency had reported that the two were killed in a “stampede.”
He also said that the Manipur media had reported that Muivah’s visit would create “communal disharmony.” Stating that such reportage was unbecoming, Phungthing argued, “why will it (Muivah’s proposed visit) create tension when he is moving from one Naga area to another Naga area.”
