Kohima, February 01 2009: NSCN(I-M) is commited to resolving the protracted Naga imbroglio through peaceful means and was against any attempt to settle issues through military might.

"We rule out violent means ...

dialogue should be engaged for solving issues," NSCN(I-M) chairman Issac Chisi Swu said in a statement at the outfit's 29th raising day celebration yesterday at its headquarters Camp Hebron near Dimapur.

Khaplang-led NSCN faction also observed the day at their camp.

"This is an era of democracy and NSCN(I-M) is committed to settlement of all human problems through dialogue based on mutual respect, understanding and recognition of rights.

We also believe that there is no problem, which we cannot solve through discussions," he said.

Issac Swu, in the underground movement for the past 50 years, said, "We are not begging freedom from India or Myanmar or for that matter from any others.

The freedom of a people is inbuilt and we are not asking territory from any other States.

We have our own territory inherited from our fathers".

It was the 'divine' right of the Naga people to decide on their future but in the matter of the approach NSCN(I-M) was deeply committed to a political solution.

"We will continue to do so," he said.

Stating that NSCN(I-M) did not nourish enmity towards any neighbours of the Naga people, he said, "We have been good neighbours from time immemorial and we will continue to maintain that spirit".

Issac Swu's statement assumes significance for the Naga peace process in view of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's reported briefings to chief peace interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah for continuation of peace negotiations with the outfit and his assertion for enforcement of ceasefire ground rules.

Issac Swu was critical on the role of the Khaplang group describing them as 'traitors' for creating a vertical rift in NSCN in 1988 thereby affecting the movement.

Referring to the on-going peace and reconciliation initiatives by Naga civil society groups and Churches, he said the outfit had already officially declared the policy of unity through re-conciliation and forgiveness.

In his raising day message SS Khaplang, chairman of GPRN/NSCN, said violence and confrontation bear no seed for solution to the protracted Naga political problem.

His speech, read out at the GPRN/NSCN camp near Dimapur, called upon the collective leadership of NSCN(I-M) to learn from years of internal conflict as infighting only devalued the political rights of the Nagas.

"We must reconcile first with our own hearts and extend the same to others," Khaplang said, a Naga from Myanmar, adding a single reconciliatory action is worth a hundred paper proclamations for peace.

Leaders of both NSCN groups have expressed their commitments towards on-going Naga peace and re-conciliation campaign during several meetings with representatives of Forum for Naga Re-conciliation (FNR).

Both Nagaland Governor and Chief Minister recently publicly appreciated the re-conciliation initiative from NGOs as the campaign brought down killings among the rival underground groups in recent months in the State.

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