Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, November 25:
Guessing games, rumours and wild speculations are doing the round in Dimapur after the November 23 Niuland (near Dimapur) episode where some leaders from both the warring NSCN factions had issued a "Joint Unity Declaration" between the two factions.
What has added to the confusion is Azheto Chophy, the Kilo-kilonser (Home Minister) of the NSCN-IM who was (is) the signatory to the much media hyped "Joint Unity Declaration" of Niuland on Friday.
NSCN-IM's Azheto Chophy, after having had signed the declaration with the "external affairs minister" of the rival Khaplang faction, is yet to turn up to brief the Friday development to his "higher authority" till this evening, according to a well placed source from the NSCN-IM.
Amidst this confusion, a press release has been issued by the participants of the Niuland declaration, who christened themselves as "Unification Team", appealing to the Nagas for extending co-operation and support to the "newly unified NSCN".
"The Unification Team appeals to all sections of the Nagas including civil societies, intellectuals, national workers and the general public to participate in the peace initiative (Unification of Nagas) and give a boost to the newly unified NSCN so as to put an end to inter-factional/fratricidal killings.
Your co-operation and participation is inevitable for the success of this effort......", said the brief note issued to the press today.
One of the signatories of the Niuland declaration C Singson (he is the NSCN-K External Affairs Minister) informed NNN over phone tonight that two decades ago "it was just the NSCN and now it is NSCN again, no NSCN-K neither NSCN-IM but just one NSCN." On being asked who will be the leader of the "newly unified NSCN", C.Singson said that the matter has not been discussed as yet "but at present we are pre-occupied with reaching out to the general public, all the leaders of the Naga national workers to support this peace initiative." NSCN-IM's Chairman Isak Chisi Swu is expected to give an "official" stand of the outfit on the Niuland development tomorrow (Monday).
The Western Sumi (Sema tribe) Hoho has also sent out a press note this evening appealing all the Nagas and the civil societies to support the Niuland "peace initiative." The Sumi Hoho had reportedly hosted the Friday Niuland declaration.