NSCN (K) has affirmed that it would not be attending the Myanmar government initiated 21st Century Panglong Conference set to be held in late July.
Talking to Nagaland Post over phone, NSCN (K) MIP said that the conference was “basically about the discussion of granting more or less autonomy to federating states within Myanmar”.
Since the conference has “nothing to do with the Nagas’ demand for sovereignty”, NSCN (K) said the group would not be attending the conference.
It may be noted that Myanmar government on May 31, 2016 formed a preparatory committee and subcommittees for the holding of the Union Peace Conference (21st Century Panglong Conference).
The committee has been tasked with making preparations for the involvement of all stakeholders in the Union Peace Conference and the successful holding of the conference.
Subcommittee 1 is tasked with holding talks with signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA while subcommittee 2 is tasked with holding talks with NCA non-signatories.
The committee is reportedly left to meet with TNLA, AA, MNDAA and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) to persuade them to attend the Union Peace Conference.
The preparation committee is trying to make contact with all the ethnic armed groups that have not yet met with the government delegation within the month of June.
NISC lauds
Myanmar govt initiative
Naga International Support Center (NISC) has lauded the Myanmar government for taking the initiative to hold the Panglong Conference, saying it was high time the indigenous peoples of Myanmar were recognized for their right to self determination, a right laid down in the covenant of the United Nations and signed by Myanmar.
In an open letter to the government of Myanmar, Naga International Support Center appealed for taking the request of the Nagas in Myanmar seriously “because after all the former Government of Myanmar signed the UN covenant for peoples who have the right to self determination.”
Naga International Support Center expressed hope that the step to hold another Panglong Conference was “an important one” and reminded that the Nagas were a people who want to determine their own future.