Jorhat, June 9: Breaking its silence since the change of guard in Delhi, the NSCN (Khaplang) has ruled out the possibility of reuniting with the Isak-Muivah group, saying the rival faction continues to attack its members at the behest of recruits from Manipur. The statement could dampen enthusiasm over the NSCN (I-M)’s top leaders, Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah, planning a second visit to India in as many years and welcoming the installation of a Congress-led government in Delhi.
Observers of Naga insurgency believe peace will remain elusive until the two factions bury their differences. Both have been at daggers drawn since the split in 1988.
Delhi began a dialogue with the NSCN (I-M) in 2001, but there has been no such breakthrough with the Khaplang group, though it declared a truce that very year. The NSCN (K) has a strong base in Nagaland and neighbouring Myanmar.
NSCN (K) kilonser (minister) Kughalu Mulatonu told The Telegraph here that unless the NSCN (I-M) stopped recruiting “terrorists” from Manipur, there would not be any unity within the Naga community. “It is at the behest of these persons recruited by the NSCN (I-M) that attacks on NSCN-K cadres are continuing,” he said.
Mulatonu, who stopped in this town while returning to Nagaland from New Delhi, said the process of reunification of the two Naga factions had reached the “top level” a couple of years ago, but did not progress beyond that because of resistance from a section of NSCN (I-M) members.
He accused Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio of paying the NSCN (I-M) Rs 30 crore, which the group allegedly used to purchase arms. “The arms confiscated in Bangladesh recently were purchased by the NSCN (I-M) with that money.”
Mulatonu said the NSCN (K) had no doubt that the Nagaland chief minister was “sponsoring” the Isak-Muivah group’s campaign against rival factions.
Rio has, however, consistently refuted allegations about his government patronising the NSCN (I-M).
His patented line is that the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland follows the policy of “equal closeness” with all militant groups, unlike the erstwhile S.C. Jamir government, which allegedly believed in being equidistant from them.
The NSCN (K) kilonser claimed the reunification process was on the right track when the Konyak and Sumi Hoho took the initiative. “But things changed after the Tangkhul Long, the apex organisation of the Tangkhul Nagas, came into the picture.”
Mulatonu claimed that the meeting that was convened by various NGOs of Nagaland in Bangkok turned out to be little more than a sightseeing opportunity for representatives of these organisations. “No positive development took shape after the visit to Bangkok by members of these NGOs.”
On when the NSCN (K) intended to begin a dialogue with the Centre, the militant leader said the new government had yet to approach its leadership for talks. “We are always ready for talks, but the government of India needs to make a sincere effort for the process to begin.”
Mulatonu said neither the Congress nor the BJP could solve the Naga problem alone. “All political parties have to sit together to find a solution. The Congress or the BJP can only facilitate such a move,” he said.