The Armed Political Movement Of Manipur Nagas Till The Signing Of Framework Agreement
- Part 4 -

Aheibam Koireng Singh / Sukhdeba Sharma Hanjabam / Homen Thangjam *

The resolutions of Nagaland Legislative Assembly may not be considered seriously by the Nagas of Nagaland, Manipuri Nagas as in spite of the numerous resolutions in the last few decades, the government of Nagaland is recognising only the 16 tribes of Nagaland and are not ready to give any recognition to the Nagas which they claims as Nagas in other areas or territory outside the present state of Nagaland. We are well aware of the controversy while recognising to the Rongmei tribe as they don't consider Rongmei as tribes of Nagaland. (Nagaland Tribal Council (NTC) on Rongmei Tribe Recognition, http://nepsnews.in, accessed on 02 November 2015). Similarly, the process of recognition of Mao was blocked by the tribes of Nagaland particularly the NTC (Naga tribes form `Nagaland only` body against recognition of Rongmei tribe by Nagaland government, Imphal Free Press, May 29, 2013).

Besides the issue of Rongmei recognition, the other issues that shake the state of Nagaland is that of glorifying Rani Gaidingliu as the spiritual leader of Nagaland. The process was opposed by Nagas of Nagaland particularly NTC (Divide on Gaidinliu reflected in day-long seminar, Nagaland Post, 29 Oct. 2015), Nagaland Baptist Church Council and Angami Public Organisation (Prasanta Mazumdar, Nagas Divided over Modi's Plan to Glorify Spiritual Leader, The New Indian Express, 30th Aug 2015).

The interesting part in the resolutions of Manipur Legislative Assembly is that the Manipuri Nagas which submit memorandums to GoI in support of NSCN-IM at different points of time is now part of taking resolutions to safeguard the territorial Integrity of Manipur. Many of the present former MLAs, MPs and sitting Naga MLAs are off and on to the issue to survive their political career (Memorandums submitted to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, by the Naga MPs and Legislators, dated 27 May 2005 and 18 July 2007).. The latest being the resolution passed by All Political Parties held on 17th August, 2015 at the Chief Minister's secretariat (Resolution passed by All political Parties in the Meeting chaired by Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur held on 17th August 2015 at the Chief Minister's Secretariat)..

Manoeuvring of Electoral Politics

Holding election in the region is a symbol of entry of Indian system and participating in it is taken as a defacto symbol of acceptance of the Indian system. It is with this mindset that elections in the Naga Hills were boycotted by NNC. It was not the case of Manipuri Nagas as they are elected to the Parliament. The first and the second Lok Sabha of Outer Manipur were represented by Tangkhul Nagas of Ukhrul District, Manipur. However, with the formation of NSCN-IM, they denounced the Indian election.

For instance, NSCN-IM boycotted the 12th Lok Sabha Election in Manipur in 1997 calling it as an act of imposition by the Indian State. On February 10, 1998, the outfit expressed appreciation and gratitude to its frontal organizations consisting of the Naga Hoho, United Naga Council (UNC), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, Naga Students' Federation, Naga Mother Associations, Naga Village Chiefs' Federation, Concerned Citizens Forum, Naga GB Federations and Church leaders, etc. for endorsing their wish and in asserting the national rights of the Naga people by keeping away from the elections. Subsequently, as a follow up to their line of thinking (i.e. calling the Indian elections as impositions), the 7th Manipur Assembly Election in 2000 and the 13th Lok Sabha Election in 2002 held in the state of Manipur were also boycotted.

However, in contradiction to their earlier stand, the Manipuri Nagas (particularly those who opposed the Indian elections) started to participate in the Indian elections with the support of NSCN-IM through UNC by forcing a Naga People Mandate. UNC appeals to elect only those candidates with no party affiliations and who endorses the NPC Declaration and the 4(four) objectives to work in unity with his/her other fellow Naga representatives elected in the same manner.

The objectives are - to fulfil the aspiration for unification, of all Naga homeland; to mobilize the peoples' fullest support of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue for an honourable solution; to provide leadership to society in nation building; and to promote the common interest of all ethnic communities in the state. Instead of directly involving in the elections, NSCN-IM contended to be the king makers in Nagaland and in some areas of Manipur. However, the Naga People Mandate was defeated and later NPF was given the role to strengthen the electoral process in Manipur. It is simply a search for opportunity and to create a platform to prepare exit (force or otherwise) from Nagaland which is now becoming a reality.

Reported Atrocities

It is in this process that atrocities are inevitably perpetrated as the underpinnings of the NSCN-IM are based on coercion. What is unfortunate is that many of cases of involuntary disappearance went unreported. However, the incidents continue to circulate in the community through word of mouth as tragic stories. The ethnic cleansing of 1992-98 is enough to illustrate the atrocities committed by NSCN-IM. Kuki Inpi, Manipur observed that the more than 900 innocent Kukis plus other ethnic groups were slaughtered and 360 Kukis villages were uprooting during the ethnic cleansing.

The worst and most disturbing is the massacre of 13 September which is observed as a Black Day by the Kukis. TS Gangte observs (TS Gangte (2010), 'Thirteenth September Black Day: Reminiscence of Flagrant Violation of Human Rights' in Understanding Kuki since Primordial Times, (edt) Aheibam Koireng Singh and PM Gangte, Maxford Books, New Delhi,):
"The ethnic cleansing of the Kukis by NSCN-IM saw one of its worst manifestations on September 13, 1993 when 103 unarmed Kukis were intercepted by a combine group of NSCN-IM and Naga Lim Guard near Tamei village in the Tamenglong District of Manipur and were later butchered in cold blooded after tying their hands".

As per the report of the Government of Manipur, Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur Gaikhangam informed the Manipur Legislative Assembly that NSCN-IM has committed 400 serious crimes in the state during 14 years of peace talks with the union government. Similarly, RN Ravi before his assignment as interlocutor observed that over 1,800 Nagas have been killed in some 3,000 fratricidal clashes since the beginning of the 'ceasefire' from the year 1997 to 2013 ('NSCN(IM) committed 400 crimes says Gangmei', The Hindu, 19 July 2014).. He further added that it is contrary with the violence during the 17 years preceding the 'ceasefire' (1980-96) that took a toll of some 940 Naga lives in 1,125 clashes mostly with the security forces R.N. Ravi, 'Nagaland: Descent into Chaos, The Hindu,23 January 2014.

Similarly, the Tangkhul society has been under siege since the split of NSCN into the Khaplang and the Isak-Muivah factions in 1988. It becomes inevitable for Muivah to keep the Tangkhul society under siege in order to achieve its project in Manipur and thus, committed the highest number of crimes against its own people, and killed the maximum number of Tangkhuls during "peace time". One of the most memorable political assassinations committed by the Naga rebels was the killing of Yangmaso Shaiza in January 1984 simply because late Shaiza, the first Tangkhul Chief Minister of Manipur stood for the territorial integrity of Manipur.

And unlike Th Muivah, the former CM worked towards bringing unity among all communities. People fondly remember the secular Shaiza. When the NSCN-IM killed him, the larger Tangkhul society was a mute spectator. Many other Tangkhuls were eliminated from a mere drug addict to an official of the Government or a business man. The outlawed Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) had alleged that Ngalangzar Malue was the 11th victim of the crime carried out with the directives of the "Western Tangkhul NSCN-IM leaders" during the ceasefire period. Out of the eleven victims, seven were Tangkhuls and none happened to be a Western Tangkhul.

Similar stories of atrocities are also reported in Nagaland (W. Shapwon Heimi, Nagaland and Th. Muivah's Terrorist Activities, NNC, April 2005). NNC have documented 1614 victims of NSCN-IM out of which 300 were killed after their cease -fire of 1997. The list of victims so far collected were only from eleven regions of Nagaland i.e., Khiamniungan, Zeliangrong, Yimchunger, Lotha, Chakhesang Angami, Tangkhul, Sema, Shepoumaramth, Ao Regions and from Kuki Tribal Union. Since it is an incomplete list , they observed that more list are to be collected from Sema, Tangkhul, Ao and Lotha regions and from the Kuki tribal Union.

They further ass that the list of victims are yet to be collected from nine regions i.e., Konyak, Phom, Chang, Sangtam, Rengma, Pochury, Amamch, Heimi and Lainong Regions. It was reported that more than five hundred innocent villagers were killed by them in Lainong Region.

However, justice is a far cry for the victims. If the present peace process with NSCN-IM does not consider the issue of justice and reconciliation similar to that of Truth and Reconciliation Commission with locally adapted version, then may not be a process to bring peace.

(To be continued)