*PRESS STATEMENT* *17 August 2009***
Apropos the news report in some local dailies in which the PRO, IGAR (S) alleged that the massive protest that took place in Ukhrul against the excesses of the Assam Rifles in Phungyar Block, Ukhrul District was “at the behest of the NSCN (IM)”, it is apparent that resorting to such baseless insinuations have been the *modus operandi* of the Assam Rifles. Such statements point to the inability of the Assam Rifles to gauge and understand the desire of the Naga people for peace and justice. Further, the “professionalism” of the Assam Rifles during their recent military operations is hard for us to believe given the fact that we have recorded statements from villagers in the area that categorically establish that the Assam Rifles resorted to tactics that violated the physical and emotional security of villagers. We would like to point out that the mass movement of the Nagas has been in place since the beginning of the last century and such statements from the Assam Rifles are desperate attempts to cover up their excesses and wrongdoings. The conscience of the people is very clear; we want just peace in our land. As the declaration adopted at the torch rally on 16 Aug 2009evening reaffirms, we are committed to the peaceful and just resolution of the Indo-Naga problem, and declare our mandate and support to the ongoing Indo-Naga political peace process. In case the Assam Rifles do not know, as evinced by the ignorant statement issued by the PRO IGAR (S), the Naga people in general, and the Tangkhuls in particular, is mature and intelligent enough to make their own decisions and formulate their own opinions. Considering all these, the question of the NSCN (IM) influencing the opinions of the people does not arise and will not arise. Stephen Angkang A. S. Dinah Wungnaoshang A. Shimray President, TNL President, TSL President, TKS Zanyo Varam, Kaphungkan K. Shimray Alung Rungsung President, TMNL President, TNWL Coordinator, NPMHR
