The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) feels overwhelmed by the unflinching support of our people during a decade of Indo-Naga peace process. Through the cease-fire and the peace process, the battlefield for Nagas is now shifted from the jungle into an open platform. Now, the voices of the Nagas can be heard in the Parliaments, Assemblies, public gatherings, on pulpits, in the streets, in the international conferences, in the media and everywhere.
At times, this paradigm shift has also become a fertile ground for Indian intelligence to exploit the situation. Taking undue advantage of the easy accessibility to reach out to the public through media and also on account of the total tolerance of the NSCN on freedom of speech and expression, dangerous and treacherous articles with malice to NSCN also find their way. It is very unfortunate that the Government of India (GoI), which inherited ‘divide and rule’ policy from the British colonialist, has experienced its effectiveness and therefore, has all along been using against the Nagas. Realizing the sensitivity of the Nagas on communal or tribal lines, they are playing this tune in full volume where undoubtedly there are a few Naga dancers too. But the million-dollar question is, “why should national issues be identified as that of communal or tribal and not as between the nationalists and the traitors”? Of course, devil will not leave any stone unturned to serve his diabolic purpose.
Going through the article under the caption, “A Confession” by Rev. Dr. Tuisem A Shishak, published all over the local papers, on 24th July 2007, the entire Naga nation is put in a state of shock while the adversaries rejoice over their melodious ‘surrogate voice’. Every sentence of this article is an attack against the Tangkhul community, the NSCN and on the Naga national struggle for self-determination. The self-proclaimed larger than life-size Tuisem naturally thought he could toy around with the Naga’s rights and get away with it, on account of his being a Reverend and a Church leader as well as being a high flying academician. Tuisem’s ‘Confession’ is aimed at revealing the inner condition of his heart and thereby induce others too, to openly come out to denounce NSCN and the Tangkhuls. How dare he communalize the Naga national issues and the movement? Are the 9 Point-Agreement of 1947, the 16 Point-Agreement of 1963, the Shillong Accord of 1975, the Military Coup of 1978, the Abortive Coup of Khaplang of 1988, on tribal lines and communal issues? In the Naga national political issue, it would have been wise for him to remain silent and leave a room for others to doubt his credibility than to open his unguarded mouth and be confirmed as a big fool.
When he said “…… I am convinced that many of the things spoken against the Tangkhuls in general, and Tangkhul I-Ms in particular, are valid and true”……… “Excesses committed by certain Tangkhuls in the NSCN (I-M) have for long angered other Nagas, not just the Khaplang group”, he was simply echoing the often quoted expression of the anti-nationals to create suspicion, doubt and differences within the rank and file of the NSCN on tribal line so that having weakened NSCN, GoI may take full advantage and press for a ‘dictated term of agreement’ in place of ‘an honorable solution’. To propagate this in a seemingly very harmless manner, Indian Intelligence wing has been penetrating and brainwashing a few selected ‘Indians of Naga origin’ such as he. And by his own admittance, he became a part of the Indian strategy.
How can Tuisem compare ‘the murder of Abel by his brother Cain’ to that of the defense of the God given rights of the Nagas from the aggressors? Is sacrificing everything for the Naga nation a crime that there has to be ‘pay day some day’ ? By this, doesn’t he mean that the Naga national struggle for self-determination is a crime where all the nationalists should stand before the judgment throne of his Godfather, India?
When he does not know even an iota of what is the life of a revolutionary patriot, why pretend to know all and make a fool of himself? Does he not know that, nobody in the NSCN is paid for the sacrifice they make? It is not a job to be paid in the first place. When he has a wrong basis, his conclusion can never be right. If he truly cares so much on the basic needs of the cadres, what has he contributed, may we ask? Or is it just a lip service? By what authority does he condemn the NSCN leaders on one side of amassing wealth through unfair means and on the other side, the lower-rung cadres as extortionists? As any Indian Intelligence would, he is trying hard to drive a wedge between the leaders and the cadres and to strike discord within the rank and file of the NSCN. This calls for a serious crime he is committing.
Why is he inciting communalism or tribalism? Is he not targeting a particular community when he said,……“So far I have not said anything good about the Tangkhuls. ……“There is another characteristic of my tribe: arrogance”. ……… “You can be sure, Tangkhuls are not united”. ………“Many Tangkhuls living and working in Nagaland State must have provoked the resentment of fellow Nagas against themselves”.
While he claimed to remove the negative attitude of the other people towards the Tangkhuls, he is actually advocating at the top of his voice only the negative projection of the Tangkhuls. Is he not being double standard and therefore a confused man? Everyone knows that Tuisem is arrogant. His false pride would not allow him to admit his guilt. However, how dare he drag in the whole community into it? Is he not trying to convince others that he is neutral and can be trusted even at the cost of his own community?
It is clear to one and all that, every ethnic cleansing of the Tangkhuls by the Khaplangs, especially, in Nagaland state is preceded by consistent hate campaign. Thereafter, every single killing of innocent Tangkhul civilian is justified as appropriate punishment awarded, provoked by the acts of that community. The list of the victims includes, pastors, Human Rights activist, students, govt. employees etc. Through this poisonous article, he is issuing ‘Fatwa’ for others to start killing innocent Tangkhul civilians again. It may be seriously noted that Tuisem is now a partaker of the crimes. Henceforth, he shall be held solely responsible for any harm done to the said community.
If Tuisem’s intentions were really positive as he claimed, we would have been too glad to entertain him like many other church and public leaders who come and share their displeasures as well as express appreciations to the NSCN and also do pray together. But that is during ‘bright daylight’ and it would seem improper for him for such fellowship. He preferred to hatch secret schemes ‘under the darkness of the night’ and splash out wild allegations in public in the name of correction out of concern. Oh thou Judas, how bitter is your kiss of death!
The apology of Tuisem on behalf of the Tangkhuls to the Naga National Council (NNC), Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), Khaplangs, Meiteis, Mayangs (Indians) etc. is treacherous. Does he not know the history of the Nagas?
The NNC/FGN sold out the rights of the Naga people by signing the infamous Shillong Accord of 11 Nov. 1975 which was politically suicidal and militarily a complete surrender. Thereafter, it formed People’s Militia in collaboration with the Indian Army to physically eliminate every individual refusing to accept the accord. Again, backed by India and Myanmar, hundreds of national workers were killed when they stage Military coup in 1978. Are they not responsible for the bloodshed within the Naga family? Who started all? Are we to say sorry to them for these?
Again, in 1988, backed by India and Myanmar, the power monger Khaplang attempted abortive coup against the Collective Leadership resulting in murdering hundreds of nationalists in cold blood. Nearly 200 Tangkhuls including women and children were targeted and killed for no crime of theirs. In 1996, under the so-called Peace Offensive, 37 innocent Tangkhul publics including pastors, students, Nagaland state Govt. employees, human rights activist, businessmen, women and children were killed. In 2006 and 2007, several innocent civilians belonging to the said community, including school children were killed by the Khaplangs. Not only that, but they also openly issued life threat warnings to all the Naga civil societies, restricting them from speaking for the rights of the Naga people. Today, Khaplang and his boys are declared stooges of the Indian Army. Still, to save the nation and as benevolence towards fellow Nagas, we have forgiven in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, all those who have committed wrong against us. We also believe in genuine repentance for moral weaknesses. Was confession and proclamation by the Chairman Isak Chishi Swu on behalf of the NSCN made for Tuisem to exploit to his advantage? Is our confession hypocritical like that of his? But of course, political traitors are traitors. There is no other media.
Should we really say sorry to them? Tuisem, have we not saved the Naga nation from the clutches of the traitors? Should the nationalists apologize to the Indian collaborators? What is the philosophy behind it? We are serious about this point of your line of philosophy.
The Meiteis treated us as untouchables. They have been exploiting the hill people. They are suppressing the rights of our people and are deadly opposed to the Indo-Naga solution. Is it logical for us to say sorry to them?
Mayangs (Indians) have trampled upon this peaceful land and left it bleeding for the last six decades. Are they not the aggressors? Should we ask for forgiveness from them for killing hundreds of thousand Nagas? Or do you want us to ask for forgiveness for defiling the chastity of our women folks, for burning down our granaries, houses, desecrating churches, harassing, torturing and for maiming? To our sincere knowledge, Nagas have not killed any innocent Indian in the past 60 years. Who should say sorry and to whom?
By saying ‘Time is running out for the Naga political peace process”… the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process is….…“separate and piecemeal negotiation” and that,…..“the Naga political struggle will end up in smoke”, is he not saying that there is nothing to look for in it, reducing it to mere regular exercise and thereby sending message to all that, to support it will be futile and therefore be contented with the present ‘status-quo’? Has he not identified himself with Korah who incites others to go back to Egypt? How can he predict that the time is running out? Is the ongoing Indo-Naga ‘political talks’ a piecemeal? How is he so sure that it will end up in smoke?
What made him think and ask, “Why is each faction fighting to set up its own kingdom within India? No faction seems to be fighting for a united kingdom for the Naga nation”. Is the NSCN fighting for a kingdom within India? Is the NSCN not fighting for Naga nation? This implies political connotation. By this, he is saying that the NSCN is accepting Indian constitution or Indian Union. This is a typical voice of those who are bent on destabilizing the peace process. Why is he one of them? Why is he so excited to derail the peace process by spewing venom? Is he for ‘peace’ or for ‘pieces’? How wicked and treacherous is his interpretation of the political reality of the Nagas!
We admit, that NSCN cadres are not angels but that does not mean we are devils. NSCN has a strict code of conduct that checks against committing crimes, indulging in violence or corruption. Defaulters are awarded deterrent punishment. On top of that, His Excellency, the Yaruiwo of the People’s Republic of Nagalim, Isak Chishi Swu has issued an apology to the people to forgive the NSCN for the wrongs committed by the cadres. But by telling us to…“Stop indulging in violence: kidnapping, extortion, killing/murder, etc. of fellow Nagas and the innocent public”, is he not leveling charges against us as indulging in it and thereby actually motivating the public and also garnering the opinions of the world on branding the NSCN as a terrorist organization even when GoI has officially declared, “NSCN is not a terrorist organization”?
Since from the early days till today, India has also appreciated and acknowledged the clean human rights record tract of the Nagas. Murkot Rammuny, the then Security Commissioner in Nagaland who created a reign of terror in Nagalim for many years, said: “The Nagas do not kill innocent civilians”. When reality could no longer be ignored, Gen. Thimaya, the then Chief of Indian Army who conducted military operations in Nagalim observed and declared, “Naga problem is a political issue, therefore treating it as law and order problem would be wrong”….. Lt. General F.A. Vyas of the Indian Army said: “Naga insurgents (revolutionary patriots) never adopted terror tactics”…Three Indian Army Generals including Gen. Shankar Roy Choudhury, the then Chief of Indian Army acknowledged that, “Military solution is not possible; the Naga issue is a political one requiring a peaceful political solution”. Just a couple of days back, Padmanabhaiah, the Interlocutor of the GoI stated in a seminar at Shillong that the NSCN is not a terrorist organization. Even when our opponents speak so highly of the NSCN and the Naga movement, who is Tuisem to twist the facts and speak negative? Is he not in his right possession? For his kind information, levying of taxes by government is universal and therefore, the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) is not exceptional. How can legal taxation be interpreted as extortion?
What does he mean by….“Behave and act as if you are working for the Naga nation, not for a tribe”.….....“It’s time you listen to and carry out the will of the Naga people”? When have we not behaved or not listened to the will of the Naga people? Till date, were we fooling the people? What is the will of the Naga people? Is defending for our rights to have a peaceful place to live in the world with honor, dignity and justice not the will of the Naga people? Are we not doing that? Or is it that he wished to interpret the will of the Naga people as acceptance of the Indian constitution? Does he not know that the NSCN had formed a people’s government? Does he not know that NSCN is a people based organization and that its policies are framed to serve the interest of the Naga people?
What transparency is he talking about? Has he ever heard that we have organized People’s Consultative Meetings 6 (six) times over the peace process? Is he aware that the outcome of every round of talks (60 rounds completed) is informed to the people? What more does he want?
Is Mr. Tuisem not making a ‘frog in the well’ of himself by offering, “I am ready to dialogue with any faction leader” ? When his leadership is not even accepted in his own village Shangshak, has he not really bitten off too big to chew, trying to act big brother over everybody? Be honest, Reverend. Isn’t your village divided into two groups? Isn’t your village Church too divided into two groups these days? When he is a total failure even in his own village and parent church, we hope he realizes his own size. One can put up a pretentious face before strangers but ones own villagers cannot be fooled. They know what one is made of. Naturally, Tuisem’s villagers know him too well.
As Nagas long for peace and reconciliation, the Collective Leadership, respecting the sentiments of the people, has declared peace and reconciliation, forgiving in the name of Christ, for the wrongs done to NSCN. The Church leaders and the mass based organizations under the aegis of Naga Hoho (apex social organization of the Nagas) has also been giving its all out effort for it. Presently, the Naga village Chiefs (GBs) and the Dobashis Federation are taking full initiatives to materialize it. Where was Tuisem all these days? Is he to be found only in the destructive platforms? Without him, is it so incomplete that he dismisses and supersedes all these to say that he is the only way for the solution of the Nagas?
Having done NSCN and Tangkhul bashing as a way of winning the sympathy of others, he expects to be elated to the position as a peace maker and facilitator between the so-called factions. What exactly is his intention apart from being a laughing stock?
Since the early days, he has strong reservation against the Naga national struggle for self-determination and it grew stronger and stronger as time passes by. Right after he returned from the USA, he insisted the family members of Mr. Khumkhui, one of his relatives who was serving the cause of the Naga nation, to immediately call him back.
In 1980, he spread false propaganda that the NSCN is communist. He even preached the same openly at Phungyo Baptist Church, urging people to be aware of the communist NSCN. Again, in 1996, during the Tangkhul Baptist Church centenary celebration at Ukhrul headquarters, where more than ten hundred thousands gathered from every nook and cranny of Tangkhul region besides delegates from USA and Indian sub-continent, he took that opportunity to insult the NSCN and referred to as AK 47 gun-totting undergrounds led by self-styled Captains and Majors threatening and harassing public.
He is undoubtedly a meticulous schemer. On the eves of both the 4th and on the 6th Naga People’s Consultative Meetings where the enthusiasm of all the Nagas were at its height, he churned out bombshell write-ups, ‘A Food For Thought’ and ‘A Confession’ respectively, with the intention of discrediting the achievements of the NSCN and to discourage people from attending the historic meetings. He wrote the articles with ulterior motives.
The golden history of the Naga people and its nation is written by the blood, tears and sweats of those who sacrificed everything they had. For the Nagas, there is nothing more precious than their freedom. Those who do not value this history are not worthy to be citizens. Then who is Tuisem to trample on the golden history of the Nagas and to throw it to the dustbin? God forbids. As called to defend and protect the rights of our people and our land, we will never allow any one to defy it. Not even Rev. Dr. Tuisem A Shishak.
Everything under the sky has a limit beyond which, it snaps or breaks. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim, with goodwill towards all has been fore-bearing and stressed their patience over the decades for the wrongs repeatedly committed by Rev. Dr. Tuisem A Shishak thus far. However, now a time has come for him to be accountable for his own deeds. Therefore, it is wise for Tuisem not to go beyond.
(QHEVIHE CHISHI SWU) (Rh. RAISING)
Convenor Secretary
NATIONAL SOCIALIST COUNCIL OF NAGLIM
Steering Committee
P R E S S C O M M U N I Q U E
8th August 2007
