Naganation.com

In the backdrop of the fast changing situation in the Dimapur District and adjoining areas, the Joint Council of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) have taken the resolute stand to oppose opening of new ‘designated Camps’ in the name of K-group within the jurisdiction of Dimapur District. The villagers are also cautioned not to allow the setting up of such camps in their areas. Any conflict or casualty that may arise in the cross firing, the villagers shall be held solely responsible. Not heeding the GPRN’s warning will be at villagers’ own risk.For the deliberate act of inciting violence and blood shed among the Nagas, the government of India is strongly cautioned to retreat from such steps and not to provide reason for bloody conflict by allowing unauthorized camps to come up.

Issued by:
MIP/GPRN

Dimapur, June 26: A showdown turned to total rout after the NSCN (I-M) army personnel overran the headquarters of the rival “NSCN” at Vihokhu situated atop a hillock, Thursday morning with little resistance from the handful of defenders.
Most of the inmates that included scores of high ranking cadre-members and their retinue of armed bodyguards fled during Wednesday night on foot, leaving behind their vehicles as the link road had already been cut off by the NSCN (I-M) army personnel.
The NSCN (I-M) personnel ransacked the  entire camp  , burned down scores of hutments     along with  43 vehicles including a bull dozer.

A total of seven dead bodies were recovered in and around the camp while two other bodies were recovered from Singrijan area, making it a total of nine killed in factional clashes during the past 24 hours.

At Vihokhu, IRB and Assam Rifles were prevented from entering the camp by the public while negotiations were on between the leader of the NSCN (I-M) group one ‘Major’ Viyito (Avi) with DMC chairperson Khekaho , the GBs and DBs and Sumi NGOs.Later, D.C Dimapur Maongwati held separate talks with ‘Maj’  Viyeto and ‘Maj’ Khehoto Sumi of NSCN (I-M) and ‘Brig’. Niki Sumi and ‘Col.’ Aheto of the “GPRN/NSCN” asking them to   return back to their designated camps, after which it was agreed to give time till 1 p.m.

Public from various neighbouring villages arrived and began marching towards the camp after a short prayer and shouting slogans, ‘we want peace’, ‘vacate the camp’ ‘No more bloodshed of your own brothers’.

DMC Chairperson Khekaho Assumi took the initiative to negotiate with ‘Major’ Viyeto Chishi commanding the section that took control of the rival’s camp.

‘Major’ Viyeto speaking in Sumi, told the public “today we were compelled to do what we had done as the camp is not recognized by the government   of India as a designated camp, so we had to destroy it”. He also responded to the public demand to vacate the camp by saying that “we didn’t come to stay here”.

While leaving ‘Maj’ Viyito thanked the DC, S.P, DMC Chairperson, GB’s & DB’s and all the public and the villagers for giving them the time to re-group their personnel.

He also cautioned public about live bombs etc. While leaving he requested the public to take care of the dead bodies of any cadre.
It was by 12.30 p.m. that the public, police, admistration could enter the burned down camp.
According to SDPO Dimapur Sunget jamir, the villagers had identified five among the seven whose bodies were recovered while two could not be identified.  Around 60 houses and 43 vehicles were burned down. As a precautionary measure one company of IRB had been deployed in the area.

Seven who were killed included: Bedhel, (“NSCN-K”) son of Halom;  Viyiho  (NSCN-K) son of Vishihe;  Vitoho , (NSCN-K) s/o Asukhu;  John Mansang (I-M);  Joshua Pochury (NSCN-K) and two whose bodies were yet to be identified.
The injured was identified as-  Khaketo (NSCN-K)

Vehicles torched included; Maruti Alto – (2), Gypsy- (14), Bolero- (12),  Maruti van- (2)
Tata- Indica- (1), Maruti car- (7), Honda city-(1), Bike(3), TVS ‘Intake’ - (1) and  Bull-dozer- (1).

In another incident Police on Thursday morning recovered two dead bodies, one at Tsetrongse Village and the other one near Singrijan bridge. The deceased were identified as ‘Sergeant Major’ Daniel Pochury ,son of  Kholo Pochury of Akhwego Village under Meluri PS and ‘ Capt.’  Ikishe Sumi son of  Khumtsa of Khumtsa Village.  Police said that both the victims were shot in their head. Both the bodies were later handed over to relatives.

(NPN)

General (ret’d) V.S. Atem, Emissary to the Collective Leadership of NSCN, and Y. Wangtin Naga Deputy Kilonser, NSCN/GPRN jopintly condemn excessive actions of cadres from both the NSCNs in attacking one another in the Dimapur area. Representatives of both NSCNs in Chiangmai, Thailand opined that such kind of ascalation and violence is the main blockage.

Download PDF format

naga people are fighting for a single goal and therefore the feeling of oneness should be created amongst the Nagas through the spirit of forgiveness.

Signed at Chiang Mai, Thailand on 26 June 2008.

Sd/-                                                                                                              Sd/-

General (ret’d V.S. Atem                                                                        Y. Wangtin Naga
Emissary to the Collective Leadership                                                Deputy Kilonser
NSCN                                                                                                         NSCN/GPRN

Therefore, both representatives agreed that their cadres should go back to their respective camps and be confined there, and that any use of non-Naga armed groups against Nagas should be stopped, and cease harbouring such groups.

16 May 2008

This morning the Azheto boys attacked the residence of one NSCN Town Command Lt.Col. Yarteo near the Patkai Christain College (PCC) at 5.30 am. In the retaliatory process the Naga Army of NSCN waylaid the Azheto boys and shot dead 14 of them on the spot and recovered 11 arms. The tragic killing is not our liking but forced upon us when Azheto boys put us in a very provocative position. The lost of lives is regretted and the NSCN condole the death of such precious souls who met such death for no cause.The whole blame and responsibility should go to Azheto who deceived the Naga people in the name of unity, and went back to his old friends for the third time when his misadventure was driven to the wall. What follows after the death of 15 is very unbecoming of the mob when they rounded up the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell at Diphupar.Under such circumstances; the NSCN will consider such unruly mob as agents of Azheto and will never tolerate such elements if they attempt to overstep into the security zones of NSCN. Any defensive actions taken by the Naga army should not be taken as violation of human rights or for that matter violation of ceasefire ground rules. This is because the ongoing Indo-Naga political peace process should be defended at all cost because any inaction on the part of NSCN will put the peace process at stake, and this should be considered doing in the interest of the Naga people.Issued by:

MIP, GPRN

Dimapur, May 16: It was bloody and turbulent Friday in and around Dimapur when a total of 15 were killed during nearly twelve hours of sporadic acts of violence and arson precipitated by factional clash between rival NSCN groups.
Those killed included 14 from the “GPRN/NSCN” cadre and a civilian, while four other civilians were injured during a series of incidents that began at Seithekima ‘C’.5:30 am
Fourteen GPRN/NSCN activists were killed at Seithekima-C village. According to GPRN/NSCN deputy kilonser (publicity cell) Alezo Venuh, the activists were killed in an ambush on their return after ascertaining reports about presence of rivals at PCC campus.Thirteen died on the spot while one, who was seriously injured, later succumbed to injuries. Initially 12 bodies were recovered by police. Later another was recovered. DC Maongwati Aier and SP Liremo Lotha rushed to the spot on learning of the incident.12 noon
Several hundred people were on hand when the dead bodies were brought in a police truck at the Diphupar Police Station. The national highway 39 was blocked as the crowd shouted slogans “we are all for unification”. The vehicles of former minister Dr. T.M. Lotha and agriculture minister Chumben Murry, which were coming from Kohima, were also damaged.

12:45 pm
The crowd soon rushed to the NSCN (I-M) cease fire monitoring cell office a few yards away as some began pelting stones. Later, some groups began hurling petrol bombs and setting fire to a bamboo kitchen. Armed NSCN (I-M) activists started firing blank shots to ward off the mob.
One youth, armed with a pistol, climbed up the building and started firing at those inside. It could not be ascertained if he was a civilian or belonging to a cadre.  Around 30 IRB personnel reached the spot but they were prevented from moving towards the Monitoring Cell when the public, mostly women, blocked the road.
Even as the commotion ran rife outside, gun shots were fired intermittently by NSCN (I-M) activists holed up inside the Monitoring Cell.
After nearly two hours at around 2:45 pm, some armed NSCN (I-M) activists arrived   and later those inside also came out. The cadres soon resorted to firing in which one civilian was hit on the stomach and died while three other civilians were injured.

The civilian who was killed was later identified as Avi Konyak, an employee of a local cable network. The other injured were not identified at the time of filing this report but sources said one of them was from Chekiye village.  The arrival of some activists of the GPRN/NSCN led to a fierce gun battle that went on till 5 pm.
DC Maongwati and SP Lerimo along with DMC chairman Kekhaho Assumi arrived but they could not stop the exchange of fire. The IRB personnel were also helpless. It was estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 shots were fired in Diphupar alone. An irate mob burnt down three houses in the vicinity belonging to some NSCN (I-M) functionaries and a civilian.

5:30 pm
Meanwhile, in another incident, another group of people set fire to two houses at Wungram Colony. There was an exchange of fire between the two factions in the area at around 5:30 pm. A civilian was injured in the crossfire here.
Earlier in the day, unidentified youths forced closure of shops in the city. All shops and business establishments in Dimapur remained closed and denizens remained indoors due to apprehension.

Names of activists killed
1. “Capt” Atoyi Sumi of Yehemi village
2. “Lt” Nokshamba Yimchunger of Old Showuba village
3. “2nd Lt” Vikishe Sumi of Phisami village
4. “2nd Lt” Khetoshe Sumi of Saghemi village
5. “2nd Lt” Moa Yimchunger of Old Showuba village,
6. “Sgt Maj” Kiuthro Yimchunger of Longkonger village,
7. “Sgt Maj”Hokheyi Sumi of Phisami village
8. “Sgt Maj”Hekiye Sumi of Lotovi village
9. “Sgt Maj”David Dimasa of Ghaneshnagar village
10. “Sgt” Samuel Sumi of R. Hovishe village
11. “Sgt” Lokho of Kalinamai village
12. “Sgt” Mughato of Ghokuto village
13. “Cprl” Mughalu of Shikavi village and
14. “Pvt” Akito Sumi of Kuhoxu village.

(NPN)

Kohima | May 16 : The Opposition Congress claimed that the people of the State have lost the confidence in the administration under Neiphiu Rio led DAN Government, and has  sought the intervention of the Governor to ask the Central Government to step in and “save” the State and its people. “The total Constitutional breakdown must be controlled and saved at all cost”, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) stated in a representation to Governor K Sankaranarayanan signed by sixteen CLP members stated here today.

Drawing the attention of the Governor on the recent spate of killings in Dimapur and Wokha district and also the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities, the Opposition Congress expressed apprehension that the situation will deteriorate and turn the state into anarchy. “We have a strong conviction that if this government is allowed to continue further, there will be further deterioration of the entire situation which will turn into a state of anarchy.”While expressing skeptical of the lukewarm attitude of the government headed by Neiphiu Rio who is responsible for controlling law and order situation and control exorbitant price rise,  the Opposition also expressed belief that Rio government is directly or indirectly patronizing some faction of the UGs to escalate the situation thereby endangering and jeopardizing innocent lives of the public. “With so many forces under his command, it is his bounden responsibility to protect and defend the lives of the innocent”, the Opposition asserted.
Addressing a press conference at the CLP bungalow, the CLP members led by Opposition Leader I Imkong also expressed apprehension of a civil war in the State if the ongoing law and order situation is not arrested.

While revealing that the CLP members also met the Chief Minister today and discussed on the ongoing law and order situation, Imkong claimed that Rio continues to maintain that the ongoing factional clash and killing is a political problem. When civilian casualties are involved or their property damage, it can’t be a political problem he said, adding “when any killing is involved, it’s not a political problem”.

Taking serious concern on the ongoing factional clash in and around Wokha and Dimapur and the mounting casualties, Imkong claimed that the State government and the security forces had failed to implement the “Standard Operation Procedure” (SOP), which was issued by the Union Home Ministry in January this year.
Rio can’t shift the blame to the GoI when union Home Minister has made it very clear that Law and Order is a state subject, said Opposition MLA Tokheho. He also wondered why the state government failed to protect the life and property of the civilian if the latter has enough force.

On the other hand, CLP member Deo Nukhu pointed out that Rio has been saying that the ongoing peace talks has been going on in the right direction until last year. Only this year, he had started blaming the GoI. Similarly, CLP member H Chuba Chang regretted that the state government had not backed up the public who tried to chase out the UG cadres from the public inhabited areas when an IRB jawan was killed in Dimapur recently. Perhaps, this has encouraged the UG cadres to open fire in public places now, he said while referring to today’s clash in Dimapur.

(MExN)