[Previous entry: "SS Khaplang on Naga Unification Our Staff Reporters Newmai Network"] [Next entry: "Swu and Khaplang: On speaking terms?"]

05/27/2008: "NISC lauds SS Khaplang for denouncing the fake Unification Group which recently announced it merged with his NSCN-Khaplang (K)"

A Naga International Support Center , NISC, www.nagalim.nl
A human rights organization
Press Release
Amsterdam, May 28 2008

NISC lauds SS Khaplang for denouncing the fake Unification Group which recently announced it merged with his NSCN-Khaplang (K)

Though laudable for exposing this renegade faction which in the name of Unification did the opposite it is strange Mr. Khaplang speaks in the interview like he does not know the Unification group merged with the outfit he leads since 1988. Could it be Newmai Network is wrong? Or better said. Could it be Bijoy Kakchingtabam of the Imphal based Manipuri vernacular daily newspaper Poknapham is wrong? That is hard to believe of course but it is equally hard to believe that SS Khaplang has been in the dark, has been oblivious, of what transpired. Although?
This is the first time since the Unification group was founded and the so called K leaders back it up in November 2008 that Mr Khaplang said anything about this group of killers, thieves, extortionists and renegades. So, either he did not know about Azheto Chopy and K cohorts or the interview is fabricated.
Interestingly Mr. Khaplang accuses the intelligence agency of the Government of India, Research and Analysis Wing, where his outfit has been charged as collaborating with state and national governments.
Thank you for this statement too Mr. Khaplang:
“In protecting the identity of the Nagas, there is no need of "NSCN" submitting to either India or Burma. There has never been a single compromise between the authority of India and Burma with the Nagas on any matter. The authorities of India and Burma are trying to divide the unity of the Nagas.”
So far nothing but praise for Mr. Khaplan and one wonders why there is rivalry between Mr. Khaplang’s NSCN and the original one he attacked and split off from; the one which is now often called NSCN-IM and the one having peace talks with the Government of India. The answer to that is simple because Mr. Khaplang goes on saying that the NSCN-IM will settle for a state whereas the Nagas from the onset of this long term conflict will not settle for less but sovereignty. The question for Mr. Khaplang thus is: How can he be so sure NSCN-IM has abandoned its principles on behalf of all Naga Peoples?
As far as NISC knows in the talks nothing conclusive has been arrived at. And as far as NISC knows no change of policy has been contemplated or announced either. So, where does this knowledge about NSCN-IM abandoning sovereignty come from? From the RAW? From the Assam Rifles his cadres are often seen with?
Mr. Khaplang, considering how ill informed you are about what your own officers do behind your back, NISC wonders by what kind of authority you picture the NSCN, you broke away from, as an organization which does not uphold sovereignty?

NISC calls on Mr. Kaphlang to talk to his former friends and allies who like you profess to be but hardly show in deeds that you are for sovereignty of the Naga Nation.

For more information visit or website www.nagalim.nl or contact us nisc@nagalim.nl

SS Khaplang on Naga Unification Our Staff Reporters Newmai Network
Imphal, May 26: The formation of another NSCN faction and the issue of the so called ‘unification’ of Nagas that took centre stage in not too distant past in Nagaland have been a divisive ploy played by India, according to NSCN (K) chief S.S.Khaplang.
In an exclusive interview taken by Bijoy Kakchingtabam, the associate editor of an Imphal based Manipuri vernacular daily newspaper Poknapham, somewhere in the Indo-Myanmar border region, SS Khaplang held India's intelligence wing Research and Analysis wing (RAW) responsible for the prevailing situation in Nagaland.
The edited version of the interview published on the May 26, 2008 issue of the paper, the 68 years old SS Khaplang feels that the formation of the "NSCN (U)" faction which led to the death and maiming of people in parts of Nagaland has been hatched by the Indian secret agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), who uses the alluring word ‘unification’ as a bait to sow enmity among the people. While terming the spate of violence in the name of unification as the handiwork of ‘reactionary,’ Khaplang said that reactionary revolutionaries will not be able to bring any unification.
The NSCN-K leader said that those who want to protect the identity of the Nagas and those who believe in the sovereignty of the Nagas could go along with him while also adding that there is no way to bring the Naga unity other than "unity through sovereignty".
He said that the ideology of Issac Chisi Swu and Th.Muivah is to create an autonomous state for the Nagas by uniting the Naga inhabited areas of three states including Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with Nagaland state and drop the idea of Eastern Nagaland. He said thereby, Isaac-Muivah group has totally undermined the sacrifices made by thousands of Nagas, who lost their lives during the course of its struggle for independence. He also ruled out the possibility of unifying with those who discarded the idea of sovereignty.
He said that while trudging the path of protecting the identity of the Nagas, there is no need of "NSCN" submitting to either India or Burma.
Nagas are one, there is no difference between the Nagas of India and the Nagas of Burma, Khaplang maintained. There has been no ever single compromise between the authority of India and Burma with the Nagas on any matter. He informed that the authorities of India and Burma are trying to divide the unity of the Nagas.
Those who believe in Th.Muivah support him while every Nagas who want sovereignty of the Nagas support him (Khaplang). In Manipur context, 70 percent of the people of Senapati and Ukhrul districts have supported Muivah while 70 percent of the people of Tamenglong and Chandel have supported him, the Poknapham newspaper quoted him as saying.
He said that there are many insurgent groups operating in Manipur – some supporting Muivah others supporting SS Khaplang. He said Naga insurgent groups of Manipur and Nagaland may go together if they want to fight for the sovereignty of the Nagas. In the face of many insurgent groups he said that those who want autonomous state within the Indian Territory may unite while adding that those who want sovereignty of the Nagas will work together.
Answering a question, Khaplang said that the political boundary of Nagas will be decided by the people after the "independence" is attained. And as of now, there has been no territory which can be definitely called Nagas’ Territory. He said that for the people living in the Indo-Burma region, the topmost agenda now should be peaceful coexistence of different communities who are struggling for sovereignty.
At the same time, Khaplang has also said that those Nagas who are thinking of creating an autonomous state within India must be branded by every Nagas as ‘reactionaries.’ He said that the people must ask themselves whether to protect the identity of the Nagas or not. He added that if the Nagas feel that their identity must be preserved then the people must unite and struggle together as one.