Nagaland: Myanmar wants NSCN-K to give up 'independent Naga homeland' demand

30 July 2018:

Having walked out of the ceasefire agreement with New Delhi in March 2015, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) now apparently finds itself in a soup after being reportedly asked by the Myanmarese government to give up its “Independent Naga Homeland” demand and sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) that had been signed by several ethnic armed groups in the neighbouring country.

The move comes after barring NSCN-K from signing the NCA earlier by the neighbouring country.

Sources from Layshi in Myanmar said recent attacks on NSCN-K camps were part of Naypyidaw’s strategy to make the NSCN-K give up its demand for “Independent Naga Homeland”, which the insurgent group proposes to carve out from India and Myanmar by including Naga-inhabited territories in both the countries.

Earlier, speaking at the Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw, Myanmarese government spokesperson Zaw Htay had reportedly stated that the NSCN-K would not be allowed to sign the NCA as it was difficult to negotiate with groups that aspire for a separate country.

Another government official U Hla Maung Shwe had reportedly said that the outfit could only join the NCA, if it abandoned its demand for a separate country.

NSCN-K had earlier refused to give up its demand for a separate country and hence refused to sign the NCA.

Most ethnic armed groups that have signed the NCA are demanding autonomous rule and not a separate country.