NSCN factional war harms unity, talks

CALCUTTA, August 20: The killing of the general secretary of the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Dali Mungro, yesterday is a major blow to both peace in the state and the moves for unity among different rebel groups. The stronger group -NSCN(Isak-Muivah)- has openly claimed responsibility for the killing of Mungro and two of his comrades at Jotsoma village, about 8 km from the capital town of Kohima, Today, an NSCN(IM) leader, however, said over the phone from Dimapur that "the order was to capture him (Mungro) alive but he was shot when he tried to escape." That the two groups were involved in a fight to the finish was evident after a recent spate of killings, particularly in the Tuensang district. This followed the NSCN(K)'s refusal to surrender to the IM faction by the deadline of July 15 which the latter had set for a "general amnesty." Sources in Dimapur and Kohima said the IM faction had taken advantage if the ceasefire with the Army to settle scores with the Khaplang faction. "Now, when the Khaplang group retaliates, the Army will have to intervene. But the Khaplang faction will say the Army is intervening only to save the other group," one of them argued. What looks certain in the aftermath of the killing is an inevitable spurt in fratricidal warfare in Nagaland. Besides factional identities, tribal sympathies would play a big role in these battles. Mungro's killing has angered large sections of the Ao community to which he belonged. The Nagaland government, led by chief minister SC Jamir, who too belongs to the Ao community, has strongly condemned the killing. The IM faction has always accused Jamir of aiding the Khaplang faction. The killings have also blown to bits hopes of unity among the factions. The Naga Hoho and Church leaders had pinned hopes on unity for a lasting solution to the decades-old problem of insurgency. But, during a three-day conclave at its "headquarters" at Niuland near Dimapur in June, the IM general secretary T. Muivah made it clear that he did not recognise the locus standi of the Khaplang faction for a dialogue with the government. Then came the IM offer of "general amnesty" which the other faction ignored. It was clear that the IM group would try to eliminate the other group and take over complete control of both the Naga insurgency and negotiations with the government. Over the past few weeks, the IM has struck at the Khaplang ranks to force the rival camp to give in. "It is highly probable," a police source said, "that some renegades in the Khaplang group helped the IM boys to surprise Mungro and his men." The Khaplang faction has not yet reacted publicly to the killings but it is likely to do so once the burials are over.