Nagaland may prove tough for Naga leaders

After a fruitful round of meetings in New Delhi with India's top political leadership, Issac Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, chairman and general secretary respectively of the Issac-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, may be in for a rude shock in Nagaland when they arrive in Dimapur on December 14. Two influential tribal organisations, the Ao Senden and the Sumi Hoho, have decided to boycott the reception organised for the duo.
 

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Ao Senden president Bendangmangyang Jamir recently wrote to the NSCN (I-M) complaining against the Naga insurgent leadership's alleged attempts to shield three senior members wanted by the police on suspicion of masterminding a near-fatal assault on Dr Maongwati Aier, the civil surgeon of Dimapur Hospital, in May.
 
The Ao Senden has turned down the NSCN (I-M)'s appeal to depute representatives for a discussion at the outfit's council headquarters, Camp Hebron, on the outskirts of Dimapur.
 
The NSCN (I-M) later arranged for a public denial by the three suspects, who swore by the Bible that they had not committed the crime. The Ao Senden, however, remains far from convinced.

The Sumi Hoho, on the other hand, is miffed with the NSCN (I-M) because the outfit has yet to "punish" those behind the killing of an NSCN (Khaplang) member from the Sumi tribe.
 
The NSCN (I-M) had owned up to the killing and said the mastermind was a habitual defector. It promised to punish him and the other members behind the killing.

The Sumi Hoho staged a demonstration in Dimapur recently demanding stern action against the NSCN (I-M) members.
The NSCN (IM) will hold a joint council meet at Camp Hebron to discuss and finalise the reception and security aspects of the visiting leaders of the organisation.

The duo will arrive in Dimapur from Kolkata after meeting top Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Jyoti Basu and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya.
 
The council may also pass a resolution expressing gratitude to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the warm welcome extended to the visiting NSCN (I-M) leaders during their stay in New Delhi.
 
The NSCN (I-M) leaders met Gandhi on Wednesday and assured to reciprocate Centre's steps to achieve an honourable and acceptable solution to the protracted issue.

Hailing her leadership qualities, they said the party has emerged stronger than ever before under her stewardship and '"any positive hint by her will make a difference in the seven-year-old peace process."

Muivah told Gandhi, "If the government of India acknowledges the realities of the Nagas, then, the Nagas, are prepared to acknowledge the realities of India even ten times more and even further. We know what we can do; we also know what we cannot do. And we will do our utmost to resolve the problem once and for all. What we cannot do, we shall not hesitate to come back and inform you,'' he said.

The Congress chief apparently told the leaders that whatever the conflict, dispute or differences be, it must all be solved through peaceful negotiations.