"Have decided to give peace a chance": NSCN (K) leader Niki Sumi on revival of ceasefire

KOHIMA: General (Rtd) Niki Sumi, the President of the banned NSCN (K), has said that he has decided to give "peace a chance". The Government of India has already given the Sumi-led NSCN/GPRN the assurance of a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Issuing a release on December 31, Sumi said, "I, as a Naga cannot unilaterally go against the wishes and aspirations of our people and consequent to our decision to give peace a chance, I might have hurt or let-down the sentiments of a few which was never my intention. Therefore, I do request all to introspect on the wishes and aspirations of the Naga people to give peace a chance."

The NSCN (K) had announced a ceasefire on December 23 and said that it has contacted the central government for initiating a peace dialogue.

The NSCN (K) had signed a ceasefire with the Centre in 2001 but unilaterally abrogated it in 2015.

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Sumi is the prime suspect in the attack on an Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district on June 4, 2015. As many as 18 Indian Army soldiers were killed in the ambush carried out by NSCN (K) cadres. After the deadly attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced Rs. 10 lakh for information that could potentially lead to his arrest.

The United Ranges Forum Zunheboto (URFZ), while appreciating the articulate leadership of General Niki Sumi, also requested the Government of India for an amicable solution to the Naga political issue.

Stating that the forum is immensely pleased to learn that Niki Sumi, has come forward to the negotiating table with GOI, it added that this shall serve "to push forward and strengthen the peace process, pioneered by many Naga political groups, taking forward the will, wishes and aspirations of the great Naga people."

The forum comprising of it’s seven (7) executive units extended supprt and appreciation to the political development and urged all to expedite the peace process to fulfill the long pending aspirations of the great Naga people.

The Central Naga Tribes Council (CNTC) has also lauded the NSCN faction headed by Niki Sumi for giving an opportunity to "peace."

The CNTC applauded NSCN (KN) for paying heed to the call of the people and is optimistic that the long-awaited political solution of the Indo-Naga issue would be obtained in a short span of time.

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