Oct 14, 2010

Nagalim: Arrest Sows Doubts About Sincerity Of Peace Process


The arrest of an NSCN peace negotiator in Kathmandu has caused some to question India’s sincerity in the Naga peace process.

 

Below is an article published by The Telegraph:

 

The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has questioned the Centre’s sincerity in the Naga peace process which has been dragging on for the past 13 years without any tangible results.

 

The outfit’s remark came after the arrest of its leader, Anthony Shimray, from Kathmandu by a joint team of Indian and Nepal intelligence agencies on October 2.

 

The NSCN has directly blamed the Research and Analysis Wing for the arrest.

 

Joe Anal, the secretary of information and publicity of the government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim, slammed the “double-standard” policy of the Centre.

 

Maj. Gen. Phungthing Shimrang, convener of the ceasefire monitoring cell of NSCN, said the outfit has been keeping in touch with the Indian officials so that Shimray is released soon.

 

NSCN general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has also lodged a complaint with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

 

The arrested NSCN leader was questioned by the National Investigation Agency yesterday and remanded for 14 days again. He has been accused of conspiring with arms dealers in China and Thailand to carry out war against India.

 

The intelligence agencies have recovered incriminating documents, including foreign passports, national identity cards of multiple countries, including Bangladesh, the Philippines and Thailand, an Indian passport, driving licence in fictitious names and other related documents.

 

During his arrest, Shimray was travelling on a foreign passport, and was on his way from Bangkok to New Delhi to attend the next round of Naga peace talks.