IMPHAL, March 24: Three Naga NGOs of the state on Saturday condemned the continued detention of Anthony Ningkhan Shimray, head of Foreign Affairs, NSCN-IM and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
Shimray was arrested by NIA on September 27, 2010 after he landed at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
Naga Women’s Union (NWU), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) jointly organized a press conference demanding Shimray’s release at the Manipur Press Club here today.
In a joint statement, the three Naga bodies said the government has initiated peace negotiations and peace talks with many insurgent groups in the Northeast and currently having formal ceasefires and suspension of Operations with as many as 31 militant groups in the region but, “We are very concerned about the outcome of these processes as we have every reason to doubt the sincerity of the Governemnbt of India on resolving the issues of political unrest with the groups.”
The arrest was made despite the fact that Shimray had actively participated in the peace process on the side of the NSCN-IM, the statement added.
It also said the three Naga bodies condemn his continued detention and demand his immediate unconditional release and earnestly appeal to all who stand for peace to condemn such threats, arrests and arbitrary detention and urge the Government of India to release Shimray and all political prisoners.
