Naga factions raise revolt against Muivah

Major differences among different factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, NSCN(K) and NNC have come out into the open over the issue of NSCN (IM) general secretary Th. Muivah's extensive tour in Nagaland and his 'style of functioning.'

Muivah is now visiting districts of Nagaland and both the state police and the Central paramilitary forces are manning his security affairs, besides his trusted cadres.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) leadership has strongly reacted to Muivah's tour and described it as a ploy to 'confuse the Naga mass' to fulfill his 'personal agenda".

Text: Sujit Chakraborthy

The NSCN(K) underground council minister Meren Nokpu told Rediff.com recently, "The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issack-Muivah) general secretary Th. Muivah wanted to go to his birth place Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur. When he was denied permission by the Manipur government, he and his cadres disturbed the peaceful situation in the Mao gate, the border between Nagaland and Manipur, As a result, many of our Naga brothers and sisters in Manipur faced hardship. Now he is touring Nagaland as a face-saving exercise to confuseNaga mass in Nagaland. This political gimmick is not going to work." 

Another underground council minister Azheto Chochy told Rediff.com, ''On November 23, 2009, all the three underground factions of Nagaland signed an agreement for reconciliation, peace and unification of all the groups under one platform. Main reasons behind signing of the agreement was to stop fratricidal war among our own members, To negotiate with the Centre from a unified platform to work out a permanent solution to the six-decades-old Naga political problem and not to confuse the businessmen and other sympathisers in the name of tax collection campaign. Now different groups are collecting taxes from same people and it is equivalent to extortion."

Azheto Chochy continued, "When we are seriously working for the reunification and reconciliation of all three factions under one platform, Muivah is busy talking to the Centre. We are worried and we feel that he has a hidden agenda. We also signed ceasefire with the Centre in 2001. Muivah should finalise the reunification move and choose a group of leaders from all factions and negotiate with the Centre for a lasting solution to our political problem."

The other faction Naga National Council (NNC) also vehemently opposed his current tour in different districts of Nagaland and asked Muivah to ''concentrate in reunification move.'' They also advised him to ''negotiate with the Centre for a Greater Nagaland and take everybody into confidence."

However, Muivah and his men are currently in peace mission in Nagaland. He along with his followers already visited Dimapur, Kohima, Phek, Johneboto, Mokokchung and Tuensang.

According to Luikang, a hardcore supporter of Muivah, "Our leader is drawing huge crowds in each and every place and receiving tumultuous reception from masses. He is a charismatic leader of Naga people. We are sure that he will be able to iron out a solution this time."

Muivah belongs to Ukhrul district of Manipur. Manipur has four Naga-inhabited districts namely, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati.

The Manipur government has strongly opposed to the idea of redrawing the boundary of the state. Union Home Secretary G K Pillai has already made a statement that Centre would not make any negotiation on the boundary of Manipur or any other neighbouring states of Nagaland. Keeping this in mind, Muivah is apparently trying to mobilize his support base within Nagaland before working out an acceptable formula with the Centre to resolve the long-awaited Naga political problem.

Meanwhile, NSCN(K) general secretary Khitobi and his men are awaiting an invitation from the Centre for peace talks.

The Centre has already made it clear that each and every underground factions will be taken into confidence before reaching a final solution to the ongoing peace talks.

Now it remains to be seen how Muivah handles the bickerings among different underground factions and also resolves the long-awaited political problem through the ongoing peace talks with the Centre.