NSCN (IM)-CFMG Chairman meet; no breakthrough

NTIMES 23APRIL: NSCN (IM)-CFMG Chairman meet; no breakthrough
Morung Express News | Dimapur | April 23

Ceasefire review committee of the NSCN (I-M) today met with chairman of the ceasefire monitoring group (CFMG), Maj Gen (retd) N George to break the impasse between the Assam Rifles and NSCN (I-M) over the April 19 incident near Hebron Camp.

The meeting remained inconclusive as the CFMG chairman left the meeting after an hour to reportedly consult with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the issue and returned only three hours later. After his return, George briefed the NSCN (I-M) leaders and left without meeting the media.

After the meeting, team leader of the NSCN (I-M) ceasefire review committee, VS Atem, told media persons that both sides (Government of India and NSCN) are keen to resolve the present impasse.

“The problem will be resolved because it is not a big deal. It is a matter of procedure only,” said Atem who is also convenor of steering committee, NSCN (I-M).
The other NSCN (I-M) leaders in today’s meeting included officiating convenor of CF review committee, Vikiye Sumi, Kraibo Chawang (member) and CFMG member S Among. It is learnt that another meeting in likely to take place Tuesday to break the impasse.
According to reliable sources, the office of Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Delhi, is yet to give a clear cut decision on the stepped up activities of the Assam Rifles near the NSCN (I-M) designated camps.

Meanwhile sources informed Newmai News Network that hectic emergency meetings are also underway in New Delhi involving Thuigaleng Muivah, Isak Swu and representatives of the Government of India since yesterday in this connection.

It may be mentioned that simmering tension between the Assam Rifles and NSCN (I-M) reached another breaking point on April 19 last when a truck of the 29th AR carrying five armed jawans almost gate crashed into the NSCN (I-M) council headquarters, Camp Hebron.

The truck (MN-7430) with the five AR jawans on ROP duty “under direction of camp commander Maj. Sukanta” was halted by NSCN (I-M) cadres just 20 metres away from the entrance gate of Hebron Camp around 8am.

Irked by the “intrusion” of their space and violation of ceasefire ground rules by the AR jawans, NSCN cadres detained the five jawans and seized their weapons, forcing the intervention of the CFMG chairman who after visiting the spot of the incident, also admitted that the AR troops have violated the ground rules.

While the five AR jawans were released the same day, the NSCN (I-M) is yet to return the seized arms.

AR rebuttal on alleged torture of NSCN (IM) cadre

NTIMES 24APRIL: AR rebuttal on alleged torture of NSCN (IM) cadre

DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 (MExN): With reference to the reports appearing in sections of the media pertaining to the 19 Assam Rifles having recently apprehended an NSCN (IM) cadre in the Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh and of having inflicted torture on him, and of him subsequently succumbing, a press rebuttal was received from the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing), Government of India and issued by Col R K Palta, PRO (Defence) Kohima.

According to the PRO, based on specific information, a column of 19 Assam Rifles, along with Police representatives of Police Station, Khonsa launched an operation in the jungles near Hollam Village in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh on 15 April 2012.

At approximately 1845 hours, the column apprehended one militant, later identified as SS Capt Yormi Horam Tangkhul of NSCN (IM), alongwith one muzzle loaded rifle (Baruah Rifle), an extortion note of NSCN (IM) and two pairs of combat uniformS.

According to the press note, SS Capt Yormi Horam Tangkhul was found to be in a sick state and was, therefore, immediately taken to District Hospital, Khonsa alongwith the local Police representatives where the cadre was handed over in a physically fit condition, after proper medical examination to the SHO, Khonsa Police Station and the District Hospital, Khonsa.

It is learnt that the NSCN (IM) cadre, SS Capt Yormi Horam Tangkhul subsequently expired on 20 April 2012 in the hospital, claimed the press note while adding that proper laid down norms and procedures were followed during the conduct of the subject operation and in the further handing over of the apprehended NSCN (IM) cadre to the police authorities concerned.

“There has been no Human Rights violation by the Assam Rifles troops in this operation. The news-paper reports of SS Capt Yormi Horam having succumbed due to torture, alledgedly inflicted by 19 Assam Rifles, are totally untrue and hence false and malicious, with the probable aim of tarnishing the image of Assam Rifles”, it stated. MExN

NSCN (IM) alerts the Nagas for any eventuality

NTIMES 24APRIL: NSCN (IM) alerts the Nagas for any eventuality

The NSCN-IM has alerted the Nagas today that they should get prepared for any eventuality as the stand off between the Naga outfit and the Assam Rifles has dragged on to the fifth day today. The NSCN-IM also lambasted the Naga People’s Front (NPF) led government of Nagaland for not rising up to the occasion.

The Isak-Muivah group also cautions other groups that once they start engaging in political dialogues with New Delhi, those outfits will certainly experience the same insincerity and false diplomacy of the Government of India as the NSCN-IM is facing today.

The NSCN-IM stated that whatever has been and will be said or written about the April 19 incident at Hebron, the Council Headquarters of the outfit, it was actually an outrageous trespass of the notorious Assam Rifles to the NSCN-IM camp.

“No amount of excuses or explanations by the Assam Rifles and other Indian government agencies can justify or cover the crime. It was a flagrant violation of cease-fire ground rules and the spirit of the widely known Cease-fire agreement between the NSCN and the government of India. It was a planned and deliberate act of provocation,” it alleged. NNN/MExN