TODAY -
The Nagas: Troubling Fission
calcuttatube.com | Veronica Khangchian | Nov 22
Cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a new Naga outfit, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) were involved in an exchange of fire for almost two hours at Thanagong village in the Tamenglong District of Manipur on November 10, 2011. Though both groups separately claimed to have killed one rival cadre, the Manipur Police failed to ascertain whether there were any casualties on either side.
On November 14, ZUF claimed that the clashes erupted when its cadres went in to protect the helpless Thanagong villagers, who were allegedly “tortured mercilessly” by NSCN-IM cadres on November 9, 2011. ZUF also alleged that villagers, including children, were taken hostage by the NSCN-IM and tortured at Soubunglong (Leishok) village in the Nungba Sub-division on November 8. A Press release issued by theoutfit’s ‘joint secretary’, Aihong Remroi Inpui, accused the NSCN-IM of betraying their own people and inciting bloodshed among the Nagas, contrary to their claim of being ‘freedom fighters’.
Meanwhile, on November 11, 2011, the NSCN-IM claimed that ZUF was formed to “challenge the (Naga) nation”. The NSCN-IM declared, “It is the duty of the Naga Army to check anti-national elements caused by the ZUF in which certain section of the people, particularly Suobunglong villagers have been cooperating and feeding the ZUF. Therefore, the Army Cadres of the NSCN who were on duty had taught them (villagers) a lesson not to continue their support to the ZUF.” Further, the NSCN-IM rejected the ZUF allegations against them as ‘totally unfounded’.
At a time when the Union Government has asked Naga rebel leaders to formulate a “higher working system” and commit to unite in order to reach an agreement for a permanent solution, the clashes between the newly formed ZUF and NSCN-IM, the developing rivalry between the NSCN-K and its breakaway NSCN-Khole-Kitovi, the age-old rivalry between the NSCN-K and NSCN-IM [since April 30, 1988], undermines the entire peace process and marginalizes the FNR, which is spearheading the reconciliation process among Naga factions. Evidently, the Naga peace talks, which began in 1997, are running into rough weather again, and peace, conspicuously, remains a distant dream.
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* This Post is uploaded on November 23 2011
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