‘One Day the World Will Recognise Our Sovereignty’: Naga Leader Part 2

[National Socialist Council of Nagaland] Isak-Muivah group. Before reaching Kohima an Indian Army patrolling group stopped our vehicle for checking, but when the reverend told them we are a prayer group, they didn’t check us.

I was in Kohima Naga Hospital for five months. My friend who is a doctor took care of me. And another one of my friends and his wife who are now in Australia, they helped a lot to reconstruct my face. They collected money through donations from Australian Christians. Australian Christian church donated some money and with that they reconstructed my face again in India.

Then my elderly leaders suggested me not to stay in Kohima Hospital any longer, but come to refuge in Kohima Transit Peace Camp. If the NSCN-IM group comes to know I am in the hospital they might kill me. So I came to take refuge in the Peace Camp in March 1996. In the meantime I heard that the NSCN-IM had thoroughly checked the Tuensang Hospital as they thought I might be there.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]We want a peaceful solution

In May 1964, the Indian government and Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) signed a peace agreement. But the Indian government broke it unilaterally in 1972 on 31^st of August. They broke this peace agreement and escalated military operations again in Nagaland in 1975.

Those operations forced some Naga leaders to sign the Shillong Accord, which stated to accept the Indian Constitution and to deposit arms at an appointed place. But the Naga National Assembly rejected that accord, stating that the Federal Government of Nagaland is no competent body to talk with the government of India. According to our constitution, article 143-144, the NNC [Naga National Council] is the only competent body to solve the problem with India, to decide about political issues. And the Naga National Assembly did not ratify the accord. Indian government also did not ratify it. It was not signed on behalf of Naga National Council, on behalf of Federal Government of Nagaland, and the Nagas were not even mentioned in the document. Nevertheless, our leaders were forced to sign on behalf of underground organisations and therefore no designation of signatories were mentioned either. So automatically the document became an invalid document. But one good thing for the Nagas was that through the signing of that accord, peace, which was broken down by the Indian government, was restored again. (Click here to see the Shillong Accord)

The Naga national policy of Naga National Council is to solve the problems through peaceful means. That is our stand. We want a peaceful solution so we established the Kohima peace camp in Nagaland.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]He would lead the Burmese Army to our hideout and capture us

In July 1997, an NSCN-IM man attempted to shoot at me from outside the Kohima peace camp. Fencing is not concrete fence but only barbed wire, so the assassin was able to aim at me without any disturbance. But then, an old man saw the sniper standing behind a tree. He shouted to give a report to the camp guards, and then the sniper ran away. In 1999 also, about 30 Burmese Army soldiers came to my wife’s village in order to kill me. But I was not in the village.

In November 2002, I went to Kachinland along with four Naga Army soldiers to renew friendship with the Kachin Independent Army (KIA). In the past, Kachin KIA/KIO leaders were helping us, leading Naga army when we went to China. They protected us. But recently we had had no contact with them, so my purpose was to meet them to have good friendship again.

Now we have good relationship with them again. Because we are brothers. In the migration story, Kachin is the younger brother, Naga is the older brother. Some of our Nagas are fighting with the KIA against the enemy, because those Nagas who are living in Kachin State are also recruited by KIA.

When I was coming back from Kachinland, I told the Heimi villagers that if Burmese Army asks you, tell them that Shapwon went on the upper side of Lahe Town. I then quickly went back from lower side of Lahe Town. After continuingly walking for a week, I reached Penthong Longsok village. As we could not take a rest in the village, we went to the jungle along with two villagers. The next morning I sent a villager to go to Hathi village to see the situation and if we could cross Khamti-Lahe Road. But the villager didn’t come back the same day. I became restless, thinking he might have been nabbed by the Burmese Army. If so, he would lead the Burmese Army to our hideout and capture us.

For safety we changed our hideout to another place again. But the village leader Mr. Pou who was with me didn’t worry. He plucked a leaf, split it into ten pieces and reeled on his finger, and then he knotted them two by two. After he knotted all the ten pieces, he spread them carefully and read the omen. He told me that nothing will happen.

The villager returned the next morning and reported to us that “as soon as he reached the village, the Burmese Army numbering more than sixty with most sophisticated weapons also reached the village; therefore he could not go out from the house for fearing they might take him as their porter”. He also told us that “some of the Burmese Army told the villagers that they were going to ambush Shapwon group who is returning from Kachinland, he might pass upper side of Lahe Town”. After the Burmese Army left the village to go to lay ambush on our group, we crossed the village.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]There were many mines on the road, so we couldn’t go on the main road

Again in 2005 the Singnya group [the same group as in 1987 and 1988] attempted to kill me. At the time I felt very bad and worried, thinking: When will they come to arrest me, at night or day? I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t eat properly. I was facing a lot of problems. My guys couldn’t have a sound sleep or food. One day I thought that whether I die or live, it is in the hands of God. I should not worry about anything. Then I became calm again. I got peace of mind. I felt that God will save my life again.

Then one day I was thinking that if today I cannot not escape from them, I am finished. I should run today. I decided. So, I told one of my boys: You hire one vehicle and come up to the corner side of the village, and then… I will just be walking to the town. You will come up and follow me with a vehicle, I told my boy. Accordingly, he hired one vehicle and came to the corner of the village. I was there, and with that vehicle, we went to Pangsha village.

From there, we didn’t know the way. On the main road, there were many mines on the road, so we couldn’t go on the main road. We should go the jungle way, but no one knows the jungle. The villagers do not know. I was thinking what shall I do? Then one villager told me, “just now three boys from that village left, you can go along with them, they may still be at the corner of the village, they know the way and will lead you to their village”. It will be OK, he said.

So I went to their resident at the corner of the village. Three of them were still there, and we went together to their village. Again, I could escape from the Singnya group. After I left, they [the Singnya group] searched the whole town in order to kill me.

After I reached Kohima, my friend Mr. Sasong who was with me was caught by NSCN-IM and he was brutally beaten. His right arm was fractured and he was maimed for life.

Other friends, Mr. Imnungmar Jamir, Kilonser (Minister) was shot dead on 1^st of June 2006 and Mr. L. Palang, Kilonser was shot dead by NSCN-IM group on December 16, 2006 in the heart of Kohima Town. I felt deep sorrow for their death and thought I am the next one to be killed by them.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]They were killed because they do not support socialism

Shapwon says it would still be dangerous to go back now.

Such dangerous things are still there. Such things are still there, among us. Many of our leaders, those who stayed in Eastern Nagaland in those days 1976-1979 were killed… I alone remain alive. And I know what happens in Eastern Nagaland, so I can tell all these things. If I am telling all these truths and writing all these things then the people come to know that they [NSCN leaders] are wrong, they have done wrong. Because of that they want to kill me. That is the main reason. Because I am exposing that they are telling lies.

The people they have killed, they were killed because they do not support socialism. That is the reason they were killed. But after the killing, they [NSNC] tell lies to the people that they were killed because they supported the Shillong Accord. They are telling lies in order to justify the killings and formation of their NSCN.

And they told people they formed the socialist government because NNC surrendered, they lied. I can’t tolerate that, such lies, so I stated: No! We have no differences on the Shillong Accord. But we have differences because of Muivah’s socialism. Muivah’s socialist ideology, that’s all. They killed them because they did not accept Muivah’s political ideology. That is why they kill. In Thailand sometimes I feel that there is also danger. In the past, in Thailand also, there were many socialist people. But now they have left Thailand.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]If I don’t leave Nagaland immediately, I will be killed

On September 27 in 2008, NSCN-IM group was commemorating their 28^th Agony Day and released a false statement. They stated that in 1980, their NSCN Headquarters at Langnukniu village had been attacked by combined Forces of Burmese Army, Indian Army and the Federal Naga Army. The statement appeared in Nagaland Daily on 28^th of September.

I couldn’t tolerate such lies and wrote an article “A response to Agony Day” and gave to Nagaland Daily editors to publish. It appeared in the Nagaland Post on 29^th of September 2008 with the full list of people, 524 in total, who were killed by them [NSCN] in 1980 alone.

On the next day, 30^th of September, IM group’s Ministry of information and Publicity furiously responded to my article with animosity and outburst. Everyone knew that they had my name at the top of their list to eliminate at anytime and anywhere. After that I felt I had no safety for my life in Nagaland. I couldn’t go back to stay in Eastern Nagaland, because of the Burmese Army, Khaplang and Singnya groups. I also couldn’t stay in Western part of Nagaland because of Indian Army and NSCN-IM. I decided to leave Nagaland. It was March 2009.

When I told my wife, she was shocked and sad. She wept and told me: How dare you leave me alone with five children? How can I alone look after them? You have no money to give me. It was truly sad news for her. I told her, if I don’t leave Nagaland immediately, I will be killed by IM group, then you will become a widow and our children fatherless. You know how many Naga women became widows and how many Naga children became fatherless because of NSCN groups. Leaving Nagaland does not mean to go and die. I believe in God Almighty and that he will safely lead me to a foreign land where I can live safely. When I reach another country I will have constant contact with you and our children through phone so that you will feel just as I am with you. After I finished my words she told me to read the Bible Matthew 7:8 which she said the Spirit revealed to her. It said “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” After I read the Bible she felt encouraged and agreed for me to leave Nagaland.

Thus I started my foreign journey at the night of March 11, 2009. I was afraid that enemy will detect me and arrest me. On the way to Thailand, I was thinking; if they detect me and realise that I am a Naga leader then they will arrest me. That was what I most feared… But luckily I didn’t face a serious check at the gates because I always praying that stop checking in the gate. So I think that God heard my prayer. There was no serious checking at any gate. So I could arrive safely. It took a little more than one week.

I came to Thailand because I could not stay in our land anymore because of our own people, because of Indian army and Burmese army, all trying to kill me. So, to save my life, I came to Thailand. I think I am alive only because I came to Thailand. If I couldn’t reach here I may have been killed, long before.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]The Nagas are not Indians or Burmans

We should speak the truth. But many people are afraid of speaking the truth because of bullets. Because of bullets in Nagaland. Those who speak the truth are killed. They are after my life not because of I am a liar, murderer or a traitor but because I am telling and stating the truth and do not support their socialism. I am telling the truth because I cannot tolerate false accusations and killings, telling lies and destroying our society.

The NSCN men are committing human right violations in Nagaland but the world does not know it. No one dares to give such human rights violation reports to the outside world. I have written about their terrorist activities and human rights violations in a book titled “Nagaland and Th. Muivah’s Terrorist Activities” (download PDF). Because of it, I became in their top list to be assassinated. Those who are afraid to speak the truth and keep silent have no danger for their lives.

I always speak what is right and what is wrong, so they are after my life to stop me from speaking the truth. The killing by them continues to date. In the hands of NSCN the value of human life reduced to like an ant to be killed. Recently on September 13, 2013, a candidate of Tangkhul Naga Long President was killed by NSCN-IM on false accusation. In October 2013, four NNC workers were taken away from Tangkhul Region. All of them might have been killed. On 6^th of February this year, one person was beaten to death by the NSCN-IM in Senapati. And the people rose up against them, protest against them. Things are changing now in Nagaland because many people are shouting against them. So, things are changing.

The Burma Army and Indian Army are after my life because I stand for my nation. For me it is nothing wrong to say that the Nagas are not Indians or Burmans, Nagaland belongs to Nagas. Our nation had never fallen into Burmese Kingdom or Indian Kingdoms. We have our own right to be a nation and a people. No nation can deprive our right to be a nation. But because of saying these points the Burmese Army wants to kill me. So I have no safety to live in my own country.

 

[/fusion_fontawesome]One day the world will recognise our sovereignty

I have five children, three daughters and two sons. They are staying in Kohima peace camp. Telephone contact is OK, on India’s side. On Burma side, telephone contact is very difficult. But they are on Western Nagaland side so I can talk to them over the phone.

If the situation changes, then I will have to go back and work for my people. Because I cannot allow our nation to be dominated by foreign people. The world is changing. The world has become more civilized. So we have to mobilize our people and work together through peaceful means. One day the world will recognise our sovereignty. And the Indian and Burmese people will also recognise our sovereignty and they will unconditionally withdraw their armed forces from our Nagaland. We will have a good relationship with them. That I hope. If I can work for my people then it is my pleasure. That’s all. I don’t deserve or want big leadership. But what I can do for my people, I will do.

Our land is not part of India or Burma. India and Burma came to our country. They came to invade our country, they came to colonise our country. The killing among the Nagas started because of the enemy policy. That is one of the enemy policies, to make us kill each other. It’s the same in Karen State, Kachin, Shan also, it is because of enemy’s policy.

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This story is based on Shapwon’s voice as he tells Burma Link about his experiences, struggles, successes, and dreams.

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*** Notes about Naga history:

The origin of Naga freedom struggle is traced back to the founding of the Naga Club, in Kohima in 1918 by a group of educated Nagas. They submitted a memorandum to the British to exclude the Nagas from any constitutional framework of India.

With the coming of Angami Zapu Phizo, popularly known as Phizo, the Naga Movement gained momentum in the late 1940s. In 1946, the Naga Club became the Naga National Council (NNC). The NNC under Phizo’s leadership declared Independence of Nagaland on the 14th of August 1947. Phizo was arrested in 1948 by the Indian Government on charges of rebellion. On his release, Phizo was made the President of the NNC in 1950.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) was formed on January 31, 1980 by Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and S.S. Khaplang opposing Phizo’s leadership and NNC. According to them, the Shillong Accord was a surrendered accord to India, although the document clearly seems to have been invalid from the start. On April 30, 1988, the NSCN split into two fractions; the NSCN-K led by S S Khaplang, and the NSCN-IM, led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. The split was due to Khaplang rejecting Isak and Muivah’s plan to hold political talks with Indian Government for an autonomous State based on Suisa’s proposal. The split triggered a wave of violence and clashes between the factions and different Naga groups.

The violence in Western and Eastern Nagaland continues between different Naga groups as well as between the Naga and Indian and Burmese forces.