NSCN-IM rebukes its cadre for marching with Indian, Naga flags

Kohima, Dec 22 :  The Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, which is now holding peace talks with the Central government after signing a ceasefire pact in August 1997, has reportedly reprimanded one of its members for taking out a peace march carrying the Indian tricolour flag and the ‘Nagalim flag, government officials and NSCN-IM sources said on Tuesday.

The issue assumes significance in view of the differences between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the Central government over a separate Naga flag and a constitution.

A press statement of NSCN-IM said that Y.S. Mashungmi, who is a bona fide cadre of NSCN, went for the so-called peace march carrying both the national flags of India and Nagalim without taking the authority into confidence.

It said that such a one man operation with sensitive political implications is not authorised by the NSCN.

"His daring venture, no matter how patriotic it may appear in the eyes of the beholder, amount to violation of disciplinary code of conduct. Security implications were also taken into account to abort his peace march midway. Mashungmi is being debriefed to establish the idea behind his peace march," the statement said.

According to a report, Mashungmi, a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur's Ukhrul district, had recently walked 70 km from Nagaland's commercial town of Dimapur to state capital Kohima for "spreading the message of peace".

During his peace march, some NSCN-IM cadres caught him in Kohima and "forcibly" took him to their headquarters at Hebron, about 35 km southwest of Dimapur.

The fate of Mashungmi and his present stay are not clear yet.