Naga Peace Talks: Niki Sumi to meet NPF supremo Zeliang today

KOHIMA: Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) leader Niki Sumi is all set to meet a delegation comprising Naga People's Front (NPF) supremo TR Zeliang and Political Affairs Mission (PAM) of the NPF later today, reports said.

 

It needs mention here that Sumi is expected to join the peace parlays as one of the key figures after expressing a wish to resume ceasefire with the Indian government.

 

Sumi, during a recent interview, said that he wants a common solution that is acceptable to all the Nagas. He also has not ruled out that the possibility of joining the peace talks from the Naga side as the third party (NSCN-IM and NNGPs being the other two).

 

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.”

 

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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.

 

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.