The Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) on Thursday asked the Khango Konyak-led NSCN (K) to refrain from using the banner and nomenclature of NSCN (K) as this would invite confusion in the minds of the Nagas.
Deputy C-in-C of Aung-led NSCN (K) Niki Sumi, in a statement, also urged the Nagas not to be swayed by developments taking place in the ousted Khango group but to have faith in his group’s leadership.
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The statement said the NSCN (K) does not have any problem whatsoever with the Khango group holding peace talks or entering into negotiations with any government or organization.
It maintained that circumstances necessitated impeachment of Konyak as chairman of NSCN (K) and appointment of Aung in his place.
However, the statement said even after impeachment and providing safe passage for the impeached chairman Konyak, his handful of supporters were claiming to be NSCN (K).
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“How can an impeached chairman still claim the chair from which he was unceremoniously removed,” the Aung-led NSCN (K) asked.
The statement further said the NSCN (K) has been actively pursuing the issue of Naga sovereignty since its formation so as to enable the flag of free Naga nation fly high. It said the NSCN (K) has been actively engaged in armed conflicts with “occupational forces” of both India and Myanmar towards this end.
However, the Khango Konyak-led NSCN (K) on October 20 reiterated that Konyak is the only legitimate and constitutionally elected and serving president of the NSCN (K).
In a release, the outfit said the impeachment attempt by “exclusive workers from a Myanmar-Naga tribe bears no constitutional sanctity and therefore cannot be construed as impeachment but simply an attempt to usurp power illegally and forcefully”.
It maintained that Khango Konyak-led NSCN is the one and the same NSCN that has been in existence since 1980 formed to salvage the Nagas from the infamous Shillong Accord of 1975 and therefore not a new creation or a new faction.
According to the group, the coup attempt was neither endorsed by the central council, the council of kilonsers (ministers) nor the party. It added not a single NSCN leader from the Indian side was consulted in either the coup or the selection of Yung Aung.
It alleged that the breakaway nationwide ceasefire agreement group in Myanmar led by “Pangmi renegades” has already entered into an agreement with the Myanmar government accepting its constitution thereby renouncing the historical sovereign rights of the Nagas and has painstakingly been colluding with the juntas to capture or assassinate Khango Konyak and the rest of NSCN workers.
“Regardless of the presence of two lieutenant generals from Indian side in the nationwide ceasefire agreement group, without cadres and mandate they no longer command any credibility to represent the Nagas in any platform since they have willfully accepted Myanmar union and denounced the Naga struggle for sovereignty on their own volition,” the Konyak-led group alleged.