Truce abrogation decided in advance, claim sources
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2015 : Arrested NSCN-K leaders have revealed that their leader SS Khaplang decided to abrogate the ceasefire with the Government of India well before the outfit came out with a formal announcement.

Interrogations of arrested NSCN(K) leaders, Khumlo Abi Anal and Khekaho Rochill, by the NIA have revealed that Khaplang has been contemplating ending the ceasefire with the GOI for a few years until he finally took the decision to do so on March 27, sources informed.

Khumlo was arrested by the Manipur Police on June 11 and subsequently by the NIA on June 29 upon his release by the Manipur Police, in connection with the June 4 Chandel ambush by a combined team of NSCN(K), KYKL and KCP fighters.

Khumlo, the sources said has revealed that he travelled to NSCN(K)'s general headquarters at Taga and had discussions with Khaplang on the emerging tension between Myanmar Nagas and Indian Nagas, and why they needed to be segregated, obviously in anticipation of bigger trouble.

Khumlo further informed the NIA that it was during his stay at Taga that Khaplang came to the decision of walking out of the ceasefire with GOI.

Khekaho was arrested from Nagaland earlier on May 26, two months after Khaplang decided to end the ceasefire agreement with GOI on March 27 .

The arrested NSCN(K) leader also told the NIA that a month earlier in November, in a meeting of top NSCN(K) leaders from Myanmar at Taga, the mood was unanimous that the ceasefire with GOI was doing the organisation's image no good and that it should not be allowed to extend beyond April 27, when its yearly extendable term ended.

The leaders were of the opinion that abrogation of the ceasefire would help the organisation redeem its importance, claimed the sources.

NIA interrogation of Khekaho also corroborated what Khumlo told the investigation agency.

Khekaho said he along with other Indian Naga leaders of the NSCN(K), including Nikki Sumi and Isak Sumi were told not to attend the ceasefire supervisory board, CFSB meeting scheduled on March 27.He also informed the NIA that the NSCN(K) was already preparing attacks on Indian security forces ahead of the abrogation of the ceasefire on March 27 .

Two Indian Nagas, Wangtin and Tikhak defied Khaplang's directive and attended the March 27 CFSB meeting, causing another vertical split in the NSCN(K), with the splinter group forming the NSCN(Reformation).

The latter continued the ceasefire agreement with the GOI.

Fissures along similar lines broadly marked by the international boundary became visible earlier in 2011, when the first major split in the NSCN(K) happened and senior and influential NSCN(K) leaders of the Indian side, Khole Konyak and Kitovi Sema decided to part ways with Khaplang, said the sources.

These splits in the NSCN(K) were prompted by a sense of futility of continuing with the ceasefire with the GOI considering the slim possibilities of any permanent settlement that can incorporate territories across the international border.

Khaplang opposed ceasefire extension on many occasions in the past as well.

However, a section of moderate Indian Nagas, in particular Wangtin and Tikhak prevailed upon him on each occasion and the ceasefire was extended, added the sources.

But on the latest occasion, Khaplang was guided by his military advisor and fund raiser from Nagaland, Nikki Sumi that abrogation of the ceasefire would increase the prestige of the organisation and put them ahead of other rival groups which have toed the line of the Indian Government.

Khaplang's decision was also dictated by pressure from other Indian insurgent groups particularly the ULFA-I faction of Assam led by Paresh Barua and Meitei groups such as UNLF and PLA as well as other groups operating from Myanmar under his tutelage.

None of these groups also have any understanding with Indian security forces or Government for cessation of hostility.

In Myanmar, all these groups maintain close operational understanding among them and share their resources.

Soon after abrogating the ceasefire with the GOI, NSCN(K) together with three NE insurgent groups, namely ULFA(I), NDFB(S) and KLO formed the United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia, UNLFWSEA under Khaplang's leadership.

Although Meitei insurgent groups were also to join the new platform, they could not do so because of some internal differences in the federation.

These differences are in the process of being ironed out, informed the sources.

The GOI was for extension of the ceasefire with NSCN(K) and the MHA had on March 27 formally written to the chairman ceasefire monitoring group, CFMG, to fix a meeting with NSCN(K) at New Delhi on April 27 .

If Khaplang was suspecting that the Government of India was rethinking on the ceasefire issue, he could have got it clarified either from the Chairman, CFSB or directly from MHA, observed sources.

But Khaplang chose not to clarify the issue and his cadres fired on Assam Rifles at Nagaland capital Kohima on March 26 injuring four personnel even before abrogation of ceasefire was announced.

Khaplang's ceasefire abrogation was carefully contemplated and not a spur of the moment decision prompted by any emergency.

The NSCN(K) had entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Sagaing Division authorities in April 2012 .

This ceasefire could not however be elevated to the National level with the Government of Myanmar because of some differences.

All the same, the NSCN(K) signed the "deed of commitment for peace and National reconciliation" with Myanmar in February 2015, a month ahead of Khaplang walking out of the ceasefire agreement with the GOI.

Although the decision to abrogate ceasefire was taken towards the end of last year, a formal decision was taken in March followed by its announcement on March 27, the sources added.

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