Cautioning Niki Sumi-led group to stop “anti-Naga activity”, Working Committee (WC) of NNPGs further warned that its patience was being tested to the hilt by the disturbing “unrestrained aggressive behaviour of Niki Sumi’s gang in and around Dimapur town.”
In a statement, WC said that the reconciliation among Naga groups, the ceasefire and three years of political negotiations with the government of India (GoI) was being threatened by a group of men who surrendered to Indian Army in two batches– Niki Sumi and two unarmed men on December 20, 2020 and Starson Lamkang and 52 others on December 25, 2020. It recalled that this was announced by none other than Gen MM Naravane, the Indian Army Chief, on December 26, 2020.
According to the WC, the Indian Army Chief and his commanders in the Northeast have stood by their word to date.
Although Niki’s group had denied their “sell-out”, WC pointed out that their activities spoke volumes of its desire “to repay new masters as per the undisclosed terms of surrender, for which a safe passage from Myanmar to Nagaland was the first step”.
It added that Gen. Naravane had triumphantly declared that the surrender was a successful episode of “military diplomacy”.
Mentioning that what transpired before and after the Indian Army’s helicopter ride from Ponkhuri, Pochury region to Guwahati, and later to Indian Army’s Delhi cantonment was slowly emerging, WC alleged that Niki and his band were being sheltered and funded almost like a regular army with cash and rations.
WC mentioned that their added assignment included “luring and recruiting habitual defectors, desperados, street criminals and traitors to instil hatred, indignation and frustration in the mind of the Naga tribes against WC.”
Noting that Naga tribes were witnessing a U-turn in their initial claim of wanting peace and political solution by resorting to anti-people activities, the committee warned that it would be forced to respond if its integrity and commitment to peace and solution was taken as a sign of weakness.
Since Niki had time and again declared to Naga tribal leaders that he had no political agenda or demand but would support an honourable and acceptable political solution, WC wanted to know why he was luring all restless “pseudo workers and scoundrels” with money and ranks, and where was the support for peace.
WC said the only plausible reason for “abnormal marketing” and conferment of ranks and positions was to destroy the sanctity and merit based structure of Naga political movement, both in the civil and military. WC accused Niki of going too far with the intent to discredit and marginalise the political process.
Also wondering whether government of India had set a “wolf among sheep”, WC asserted that it would not remain mute spectator anymore along with the Naga tribes.
WC explained that it had a clear and standing principle and understanding that there would be close working relationship on the ground among the military wings, adding that a threat to one group would be confronted through coordination with tribes, GBs and civil societies.
Declaring that time has come to save the land and people from traitors, WC reminded Niki that many in the past had played their role and failed miserably and therefore asked him better to remain a Naga in “flesh, mind and spirit”.
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