Shocking reports have come in that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim- Unification (NSCN-U) recruited over 1000 members during the month of October this year.
NSCN-U is one of the prime constituents of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) which is in talks with the Centre to end the decades old Naga political problem.
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After the first joint meeting of three NSCN groups – NSCN (K), NSCN (R) and NSCN (U) – with the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG)/ Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB), held at its office in Kohima on Wednesday, the NSCN groups have reacted to the allegations about the recruitment of new cadres.
Hotoi Zhimomi, NSCN-U secretary CFSB was quoted as saying that recruitments are going on.
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“But we have not forced anybody to join our group nor have we forced anybody to go for training,” he was quoted as saying.
He also said the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) specifically mentions, ‘NSCN will refrain from forcible recruitment of armed cadres.”
“This is mentioned in the Ceasefire Ground Rules under Clause 12,” he reiterated.
“We are not breaking the laid ceasefire rules because we have not forced anybody to go for training,” he asserted.
He also said after the solution, there might be some problems for those cadres who have recently joined because they are still not clear what the provision will be for these cadres.
For those cadres, who have worked for 40-50 years and for those who have just recently joined, we cannot take the same yardstick, he also said.
Unemployment, according to Zhimomi, is one of the reasons why many Nagas are joining the groups.
Zhimomi also revealed that after October 31, over 5,000 of interested candidates were sent back because there was ‘no space to accommodate’.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (R) has denied allegations and said that the group has no new recruits.
Muzivoyi Puro, deputy kilonser and member CFSB, said that these allegations are an attempt to ‘derail the peace process’.