Homeland Security

Nagaland: The Beginning of Insurgency - II
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
Issue Book Excerpt: Lost Opportunities | Date : 10 May , 2011

The Shillong Accord

The defeat of Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak war was a grievous blow to Naga insurgency. The insurgents lost their bases in East Pakistan. During the war self-styled General Thinsullie, chief of the underground Naga Army (Phizo Group), and self-styled Brigadier Nidellie were captured by the Indian forces inside Bangladesh. In a major development, a section of Nagas who were supporters of the underground and had formed a political party, the UDF, decided to confront the Government on a political plank.

Also read: Nagaland: The Beginning of Insurgency – I

UDF contested the general elections of 1974 with the promise to bring genuine reconciliation between the underground and the Government of India. The election did not produce a clear majority but UDF formed a government with the help of some independents under a moderate Naga, Vizol.

The government did not last long as there were defections from its ranks. Political instability forced the Governor to impose President’s rule.

Click to buy: Lost Opportunities

The pressure on the underground was resumed. There was an attempt to send another gang of hostiles to China led by Issac Swu. The bulk of the gang was prevented from crossing the border into Myanmar and many were either killed or captured. A small number, however, succeeded in escaping the security dragnet.32

The defeat of Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak war was a grievous blow to Naga insurgency. The insurgents lost their bases in East Pakistan.

The imposition of internal emergency by Smt Indira Gandhi in 1975 gave a free hand to the security forces to flush out the insurgents from their jungle hideouts. Between April and August 1975, a spate of surrenders took place. A total of 1,214 surrendered.33 The church leaders again took initiative to broker peace. A liaison committee, under Rev Longri Ao with Dr Aram among others, was formed to facilitate talks with the underground.

The liaison committee held talks with Biesto Medom, Keviyalle (Phizo’s brother), Ramyo and M Asa of the underground. When it became clear to the Governor, Shri LP Singh, that the agreement had a fair chance of success, he met the committee at Shillong. The Governor was assured that the underground on their own volition accepted without condition the Constitution of India and promised to deposit their arms at an appointed place. The agreement, which came to be called the Shillong Accord, was finally signed on November 11, 1975.34

Formation of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)

When the Shillong Accord was being negotiated, Isak Swu and Muivah with a group of 150 hardcore rebels were on their way back from China. It may be recalled that a group had managed to exfiltrate and reach the Chinese territory towards the end of 1974. This group had begun to return in small batches. When Muivah and Isak Swu were informed about the developments, they rejected the Accord and termed it as betrayal by the NNC and swore to fight on.

The situation has turned worse by trafficking in drugs and gunrunning. Insurgency provides an ideal cover for such operations.

Chinese hand was discerned in the rejection of the Accord, as it was in their interest.35 This group did not physically enter Nagaland but established itself in Myanmar’s territory, where they had the support of Chin Nagas. They set up a camp on a mountain top, identified as Sapha camp. Soon cracks developed in the group. Isak and Muivah made derogatory remarks against Phizo and the policy adopted by the NNC.

The UDF government of Nagaland had established a camp at a place called Pangshe on the Indian side of the border to negotiate with Isak-Muivah group but no progress was made till September 1979. As an interim measure, the dissident group had set up a military council. In March 1979, Isac-Muivah group called a National Assembly, which elected Khaplang, a Hemi Naga from Myanmar, as the Federal President. Isak and Muivah were able to convince Khaplang to break with the NNC. On February 2, 1980, the trio announced the formation of the NSCN, replacing the FGN36.

Over the years it has extended its influence to the Naga inhabited areas of Assam, and some parts of Meghalaya and Arunachal and has become the mainspring of insurgencies in the North-east.

The period leading up to the formation of NSCN was bloody. Those who had lived and fought together were engaged in killing each other, all in the name of ideology and the future of Nagaland. 20 top underground cadres lost their lives at the hands of their erstwhile colleagues. It was one of the darkest periods in Naga’s struggle for self-determination.

The NSCN Manifesto

The manifesto of NSCN included the following: –

  • Unquestionable sovereignty over every inch of Nagaland.
  • Dictatorship of the people through NSCN.
  • Socialist government to ensure fair equality to all the people.
  • Nagaland for Christ.
  • No illusion of saving Nagaland by peaceful means.
  • Self-reliance.

Split in the NSCN

Sometime in 1985, feelers were sent through Rev Longri Ao for talks with the NSCN without pre-conditions. The Government of India agreed to hold talks but reportedly backed out. The government once again proposed talks but within the framework of the Indian constitution. The offer was rejected. Soon differences arose over the response to the Indian Government’s persistent proposal to start dialogue. Rumours were spread that Isak and Muivah have sold out and planned to oust Khaplang.37

Editor’s Pick

An effort was made to patch up the differences but in a pre-emptive strike, Khaplang aided by Myanmar’s troops attacked Muivah group on April 30, 1988. 140 men of Muivah group were killed while 230 others including women and children escaped and fled to the jungles pursued by Myanmar’s troops. Many died but a handful under Muivah joined up with Isak and trekked to Konyak area. The NSCN formally split into two factions; the Konyak Nagas under Khaplang and Khole Konyak formed NSCN (K) and the Thangkhul Nagas under Isak and Muivah formed NSCN (IM).

NSCN considers collection of taxes as legitimate on the plea that it is the Government, a formulation that no government can accept.

The split has led to bloody feuds between the two groups. The NSCN (IM) has made a strong comeback since the split in 1988. Over the years it has extended its influence to the Naga inhabited areas of Assam, and some parts of Meghalaya and Arunachal and has become the mainspring of insurgencies in the North-east. The NSCN (IM) has established a government-in-exile called the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland; the name Nagaland has been replaced by Nagalim to include the areas claimed in Greater Nagaland.

1 2 3 4 5
Rate this Article
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Brig (Dr) SP Sinha

Brigadier (Dr) SP Sinha, VSM (Retd)

More by the same author

Post your Comment

2000characters left