Naga political, social leaders shocked over ban on NSCN-K

New Delhi: Expressing shock over the ban of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) by the central government, leaders from Nagaland`s political and social arena said the faction deserved opportunities to be allowed to "negotiate" and not be banned.

They said it was important for each and every factions of NSCN-K and other stake holders to be part of the negotiation, without which reaching out a political solution for the Naga conflict was incomplete.

"This is a shock to us, can`t say why the government has done this specially after giving the clearance to us to hold talks with NSCN-K leaders in Myanmar. We are not happy with the government`s decision," Chuba Ozukum, president of apex Naga civil society group Naga Hoho, told IANS.

He said Naga civil societies, indulged into the task of persuading all the factions to jointly accept the Naga Peace accord, was not able to understand the way central government was dealing with the Naga issue.

The ban of NSCN-K came after a series of exchange of fire between security forces and the militant group in the last couple of weeks, causing death of 15 cadres of the militant group. 

The ban was also a clear indication that the government was not going to indulge in any more talks with the NSCN-K specially after the later had involved into a series of attacks on the security forces after abrogating the 14-year-old ceasefire on March 27.

Khekiho Zhimomi, lone Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland, told IANS: "To my view this decision by the Indian government is too early. NSCN-K should have been given more space for dialogues, so that they could have entered into the ceasefire once again."

He said the government`s decision to ban the NSCN-K was contradictory to what it had said earlier regarding persuading NSCN-K to rejoin the peace process by coming into ceasefire .

The government had tasked the Naga civil societies to persuade the NSCN-K to rejoin the ceasefire.

The decision to ban NSCN-K under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act came after the union cabinet met in the national capital.

Recently, the central government had declared a bounty of Rs.17 lakh to anyone giving information about the location of NSCN-K chief S.S. Khaplang and its military chief Niki Sumi.

Speaking on the issue, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told IANS: "This decision has been taken by the government so, I cannot say anything about it. I will speak on the issue later."