Niki Sumi breaks silence on peace talks; bats for 'one solution' for all Nagas

 

KOHIMA: Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim leader Niki Sumi recently said that the Centre and the Naga negotiators must arrive at a "common solution" that is palatable to all parties.

 

 

In an interview with Northeast Live, Sumi said that the "issue of sovereignty has always depended on the Naga people."

 

 

Speaking on the demand of a separate flag and Constitution for the Nagas, Sumi said that a solution can be arrived at after consulting the people.

 

 

 

"Without people coming into the picture, we can't decide anything," he said.

 

 

Sumi in the interview also said that his faction becoming a third entity in the ongoing talks depends on the wishes of the government and emphasized that there should be one common 'final solution' for the Nagas.

 

 

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Sumi also revealed that his faction has been interacting with many NGOs and student bodies -- all stakeholders in the peace talks -- and said that everything has been "positive" so far.

 

 

The rebel leader also stated that the political groups should iron out their differences so that a final solution can be arrived at the earliest.

 

 

The Niki Sumi faction of the banned NSCN(K) have come overground in Nagaland. In a statement on December 26, Sumi claimed the contact was established on the invitation of the GoI.

 

 

Sumi is one of the main accused in the killing of 18 Indian Army personnel on June 4, 2015. It was carried out after the outfit abrogated the ceasefire in March 2015.

 

 

Indian agengies, Sumi said, are helping the rebels come to a "reconciliation" amid murmurs of a renewal of the ceasefire.