Khaplang-Yangon truce on cards

H. CHISHI

Kohima, Apr 6 : The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, headed by S.S. Khaplang, will soon sign a ceasefire with the Myanmar government to end decades of conflict.

According to a high-ranking NSCN (K) leader, in an effort to hammer out a solution to the Naga political problem in Myanmar, the outfit will soon sign a bilateral ceasefire with the junta-backed civilian government.

The NSCN (K) source said top rebel policymakers from Nagaland, including Khaplang’s envoy, Kughalu Mulatonu, and Khaplang’s blue-eyed boy Wangtin Konyak, have left for Myanmar to work out modalities to declare a truce before April 28, when the outfit will also ink an extension of ceasefire with the government of India.

Khaplang declared a bilateral ceasefire with Delhi on April 28 last year.

A source said while Mulatonu and few rebel leaders have left for Myanmar via Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh, another group has entered Myanmar via Moreh in Manipur.

Khaplang will not meet the Myanmar officials but will be the key person to negotiate with during political talks.

An NSCN source said Myanmar has also shown keen interest in resolving the Naga issue.

Prior to the declaration of truce with Myanmar, the NSCN (K) will hold a general meeting at its council headquarters not far from the Indo-Myanmar border.

A cessation of fire was inked between the NSCN (K) and Myanmar after the government granted autonomy to the Naga-dominated Sagaing division, after the country’s general elections in 2010.

Autonomy has been widely welcomed by the Nagas in Myanmar, with Naga MPs being given top cabinet berths in the Myanmar Assembly.

Delhi and the Nagaland government had also played a major role in ensuring autonomy to the Nagas in Myanmar.

Lately, Nagaland government officials, including chief minister Neiphiu Rio, met several top Myanmar officials for special recognition of Nagas in Myanmar.

The Nagaland government also sought a special economic package for the Nagas from the government of India and Myanmar.

Though the outfit is working on the modalities to begin talks with Myanmar, a few hardliners have stuck to sovereignty, which Myanmar is likely to reject.

Asked about the fate of other militants groups like Ulfa which are taking shelter in Myanmar, after the signing of ceasefire, a rebel leader said: “We will remain united like before”.

He said ceasefire with Myanmar would not affect the other rebel groups holed up in that country.

The NSCN (K) will soon open its ceasefire supervisory board office at Dimapur under the protection of Indian authorities, since the rival NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) is opposed to opening Khaplang’s office in Dimapur.

On reports of Kitovi and Khole preparing to begin talks with the government of India, the NSCN (K) belittled the rival faction saying the proposed talks would be a futile exercise, as the group did not have enough political base to negotiate with the Centre.