Three Naga underground groups to hold talks with govt
For the first time three underground organisations in Nagaland
have agreed to come together for holding talks with the federal
government to hammer out a permanent solution to the decade-old
Naga problem.
The decision of these organisations, comprising the two factions
of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the 'Federal
Government of Nagaland', to initiate unconditional talks with
the federal government has surprised many.
Political observers here are wondering whether the stance is a
spontaneous deviation from the original stand following the changed
circumstances or due to the erosion of senior leadership of NSCN
(M-I), the premier insurgent group after the capture of at least
12 of their high-ranking front runners by security forces in the
past eight months.
However, sources say the decision of a round-table conference
was taken at the initiative of Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda who
met NSCN Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and its Genreal Secretary Muivah
in Zurich on February 3.
The council also welcomed the response of these outfits to suggestions
of bringing peace to Nagaland. The last peace talk between the
undivided "federal government of Nagaland" and the then
Governor L P Singh as the federal government's representative
was held in 1975 in Nagaland and Shillong, when the federal setup
was on the run owing to extensive operations started jointly by
the security forces and the administration while Nagaland was
under President's rule.
Despite opposition from the army and the administration, the Shillong
accord was signed without a distinct approval of the founding
father of the Naga movement A Z Phizo.
The accord, simultaneously released from Shillong, Kohima and
New Delhi on November 11, 1975, was signed by L P Singh and six
activists of the 'Federal Government of Nagaland'.
The three-clause accord said ''The representatives of the underground
organisations conveyed their decision of their own volition to
accept, without condition, the constitution of India.''
"It is agreed that the arms, now underground, would be brought
out and deposited at an appointed place, details for giving effect
to this agreement would be worked out between them and representatives
of the government, the security forces and members of the liaison
committee."
The last clause said "It was agreed that the representatives
of the underground organisations should have a reasonable time
to formulate other issues for discussion for final settlement."
However, "the other issues" have not been formulated
so far and the "reasonable time" is yet to see the light
of the day.
Muivah and Isak vehemently opposed the Shillong accord and termed
the signatories from federal setup as "traitors."
The bitterness reached a crescendo when Muivah and Isak declared
that they would not accept any settlement "short of total
independence." The Muivah-Isak revolt, evoked a sharp reaction
from the pro-Phizo group and culminated in the "arrest"
of Muivah and Isak along with their followers in a bloodless coup
led by "brigadier" Khole and "brigadier" Subongnuksyu
in September 1978.
Muivah Swu and their followers, were however, "set free"
in July 1979 following a reconciliation move initiated by Khaplang.
Muivah and Swu soon, fortified their position, keeping the pro
Phizo group in the dark, stormed back to power after a bloody
encounter in December 1979.
Muivah had most of his adversaries executed by a firing squad.
The victims included the vice-president of the Naga National Council,
political wing of the federal setup, and ambassador to the Kaching
state Thepushu Venue Lieutenant Col Vesazo, Captain Kevileteto,
Tatarm (MP) T Veenyiyi and Major Nituolie Angami of the Third
Battalion of the Naga Army.
Immediately after his assumption of power, Muivah issued quit
notice on January 31, 1980, to the Angami, Chakesang, Ao, Konyak
and Khemungan Naga tribes to leave northern Burma, from where
they were operating.
Formally severing all connections with federal setup, Muivah and
Swu formed a new pro-China party, National Socialist Council of
Nagaland and issued declaration in the name of interim government
of the People's Republic of Nagaland signed by Isak Chishi Swu
as executive chairman on February 2, 1980.
The declaration said "Whereas, it is the will of the people
that rules, the National Socialist Council declares on this day
the second February, 1980, that the name of the new government
shall be the 'government of the People's Republic of Nagaland'."
However, it shall remain interim until formal adoption of a constitution
to this effect.
The undivided government of the People's Republic of Nagaland
published a 38-page manifesto entitiled "polarisation"
signed by Isak Chishi Swu as chairman, S S Khaplang as vice-chairman
and Muviah as general secretary on February 7, 1985, outlining
the aims, objectives and future plans of their new government.
About communism, the manifesto said "We Christians, must
not learn prejudice against the good of the communist, it is the
weak point in the Christian mentality. Mad dogmatism should be
discarded. Marxism, Leninism and Mao Tse Tung's thought are scientific
socialism. They bring about a world of society that rules out
exploitation." The manifesto ended with "Long live Nagaland
for Christ, long live the sovereign Nagaland and long live the
socialism of the NSCN."
The NSCN, however, fragmented into two factions on April 30, 1988,
in a bloody clash between Muivah Swu and Khaplang killing about
100 people on both sides. The clash was followed by the formation
of rival setup NSCN(K) who are constantly engaged in clashes since
its inception to establish hegemony.
UNI
|