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