W. Shopwan Heimi, Joint Secretary Naga National Council
Mr. Rh. Raising, the Kilo Kilonser of the NSCN IM had stated in his NSCN IM Raising day speech that “On 30thAugust 1978, Lt. Col. Subong seized power in a military coup” and that “Isak Swu and Th. Muivah along with their Cabinet members were arrested and detained in the military custody”. Although this statement is true, the following facts also must be made known to the Naga public so that they will understand why Lt.Col Subong was compelled to impose the Military coup:
In the Central Executive Members meeting held on Aug.2, 1978 at Sector 11 camp in Eastern Nagaland, Muivah along with his supporters for a socialist form of government, passed the following resolutions:
(a) A national worker shall be qualified to become a Central Committee member (CCM) only after five years service in the newly set up Government in Eastern Nagaland.
(b) Smokers and alcoholic will not be fit for the post of CCM.
(c) NNC President A. Z. Phizo shall be called back home by 1980. But if he fails to comply, he will be removed from the leadership. Under these new conditions, all the other Tatars and representatives from the other regions became unqualified except Muivah, Isak and the CCM from the Tangkhul region.
Even as early as August 16, 1976, after the 29th Independence Day celebration at Siipao village, Muivah had called for the formation of a new government in the pattern of a Communist government. Under the formation of this new government, all political powers were centralized. Tatars and Leacy’s were renamed Central Committee Member (CCM), and Regional Committee Member (RCM). Presidents and Vice Presidents of both the NNC and FGN were made to hold dual posts in both the organizations. He himself also became General Secretary of both the organizations. Also, though Mr. Imkongmeren, the then Vice President of the NNC was in prison, Isak Swu was elected the Vice President of the NNC. Further, in the Emergency meeting held from 16th to 18th May 1978, Muivah had insisted that all the national workers in the West should never be reinstated in the Naga national service because of the Shillong Accord.
Lt. Col. Subong therefore, in consultation with other leaders, staged a Military coup on Aug. 30, 1978 and arrested Muivah and Isak along with Lorho Mao, Brig Vedai and Major Proning. (The other three were later released). The stand of the Martial law administrators were:
1. Not to accept Socialism. 2. To restore the Federal Government of Nagaland. 3.To support and re-affirm the leadership of Mr. A. Z. Phizo and Mr. Imkongmeren Ao, President and Vice President of NNC respectively.
The Martial Law was in operation for only four months and 9 days (August 30, 1978 to March 9,1979). As soon as Martial Law was lifted on March 9, 1979.the Federal Government was restored. A new ministry of the FGN was sworn in on March 12, 1979 with Khaplang as President. Though nominated, both Lorho Mao and Col. Subong had refused the post of the President. All these facts show that neither Col Subong nor any of his colleagues were after political power and seized it through a military coup as implied by Raising. Also, after the new Ministry was installed, T.H. Muivah and Isak Swu were released in May 1979 by Khaplang with the condition that they would be debarred from any further national service and given the free choice of either staying in the east or going back to Nagaland. However, Raising in his NSCN 37th Raising Day speech had said that in the first week of January 1980 Mr. Khaplang had called a national worker’s conference where “Mr. S. S. Khaplang announced the unconditional release of Isak and Muivah who were then still under incarceration.” (Nagaland Post, Feb. 1, 2016)
The word “Incarceration” means “Imprisonment.” Therefore, let every educated Naga note that if what Raising is saying is true- that Muivah and Isak were released from incarceration only in the first week of January 1980- then they cannot be guilty of the murder of the 15 top NNC and FGN leaders who were murdered from November 27 to January 3, 1979. But the fact is one where Isak and Muivah were released in May 1979 as this write up will proof. There are also still many other living witnesses to these facts besides myself.
As for the to top NNC/FGN and Naga army leaders who were killed between Nov 27, 1979 to 3rd Jan 1980 by Muivah and his henchman, they are leaders like T.Venuh-Vice President NNC, Lorho Mao- Speaker, Tatar Hoho, Veniyi- Tatar, Mayanger-Kilonser Rali Wali, Ngathingkhui Tangkhul-Kilonser, Lt. Col Subong, Lt. Col Vesazo, and Capt. Kumziik, etc. All together, 15 persons were killed before 4thJan.1980 and thousands after that. (For details, read my book: How the Fratricidal Killings started among the Nagas- published, 1997).
In this context, even Muivah himself had lied about his release saying: “We were released on the 30th January 1980 and the solemn declaration of the NSCN Manifesto was done on 31st January 1980. (Quoted from the NSCN IM, M.I.P. book: Cry for Justice, page 76)”. The different dates given about the release of Isak and Muivah by Raising Muivah and even Ape Venuh (Nagaland Post Oct 6, 2015) are being done so that Nagas can be fooled into thinking that Khaplang had done all the killings of the NNC/FGN leaders before NSCN was formed on 31st Jan 1980. Also they are using the Shillong Accord to justify their evil deeds and to shift the blame on NNC/FGN for division and killings among the Nagas. However, the following events can once and for all proof that they are all lying. It will also show that the divisions and killings among the Nagas were not because of the Shillong Accord but because of Muivah’s Socialism. In this context, other writers have already shown that as for the Shillong Accord, Mr. Zashei huire-the then President of the FGN-was the first to express his Government’s inability to include (Accept) clause 1 and 3 of the Shillong Accord as early as Dec. 30, 1975. They have also pointed out the fact that, as for those who were in Eastern Nagaland during the signing of the Shillong Accord, they had all unanimously condemned the Shillong Accord and therefore, there was no question whatsoever of some Shillong Accord “opposers” having to kill the Shillong Accord “supporters” in order to safe the nation from capitulation. (See General Thinoselie’s article “Rejoinder to the Position of NSCN, Morung Express, Jan19, 2016 and Longsha Konyak’s article “Who has caused divisions and killings among Nagas,” Morung Express, Feb. 2, 2016).
As for my statements to proof that Muivah and Isak had been released in May 1979, I can swear in the name of God and according to Naga tradition. On 12th June 1979, Isak and Col. Kakiho gave SemaTuluni feast at Nuklaw Naga Army Headquarters, Heimi Region. I was also there on my way to Kohima. As he and Muivah were released from House arrest in May 1979 by Khaplang, they came to stay at the Naga Army HQ, and thus Isak gave the feast as thanks giving to God for his release.
Again Isak came to Pongshom village where his wife and children were and I was there too on my way to Kohima along with EnoThepushuyi Keyho. Here again, Isak gave a feast to the villagers on Nagaland Independence Day of 14th August 1979. That was my last meeting with Isak.
Therefore, the question I want to ask Raising (As well as Muivah and Ape) is: How can Isak be giving all these feasts if he and Muivah were still in “incarceration” of the Martial law till January 30, 1980? (We left Pongshom village on 15th August 1979, and were coming to Kohima, but were arrested by the Indian Police on 18thAugust 1979 after we passed Khunsa Town. I was convicted for three years and three months and set free from the Jail on 29th March 1982).
Also Mr. Raising narrated about late Lt. Col. Visazo’s action against Muivah, who said, “Whoever wants to support Phizo should follow me and whoever wants to follow Isak and Muivah may join them”. This events and statements are also true. But it was done after a resolution was adopted by Muivah and his group to overthrow Phizo’s leadership on 2nd August 1978 at the Sector 2 Camp in Sikba village Lainong Region. The Camp was at the boundary of Lainong and Heimi Region.
At that time of the divisions and killings in Eastern Nagaland, I and Late Eno T. Venuh (who was later killed by Muivah) were in Langching Naga Army Headquarters of Eastern Naga Revolutionary Council (ENRC). After we heard the news, I and Eno T. Venuh went to Sector two Camp which was four days journey on foot. We met Lt. Col. Visazo and many other Naga Army in Yang Naw village. Eno T. Venuh stopped at Yang Naw village. But I proceeded to Sector 2 Camp along with my bodyguards. When I reached there, I found the Camp almost deserted with only some few bodyguards of Isak, Muivah, Mayanger, and Lt. Col. Supong. This was because all the Naga Army who opposed Muivah’s policy had followed Lt. Col. Visazo. Among the Heimi Naga Army,only Rasi Karang, a bodyguard of Isak remained. I came back from the Camp on 26thAugust 1978.
As Raising said, Isak was made as Vice President of NNC on 16th August 1976, in Süpao temporary Camp, sacking out Imkomgmren’s leadership without any reason. This displeased Naga national workers who supported Phizo and Imkongmaren. Moreover, on 2nd August 1978 they adopted another resolution to overthrow Phizo’s leadership that triggered the wrath of Naga Army officers. As a result, the action of Lt. Col. Visazo Chakhesang took place. And following this, the Naga Army declared Martial Law on 30th August 1978 and detained the two leaders.
Because of his action Lt. Col. Visazo was brutally tortured by Muivah’s supporters before he was shot dead. But Lt. Col. Vesazo yelled loudly while he was being led to be shot dead and said; “I am a man and not afraid to die for my nation, today I’ll die because I have gone against Muivah’s Socialism but Socialism shall never overcome the NNC”.
One day before the NSCN was formed, Th. Muivah, the NNC General Secretary solemnly stated that the NNC is the only authentic political organization of the people of the whole Nagaland. (See merger document signed on 29th January 1980 with Khaplang). Also Muivah stated that the NNC was never deterred by set backs here and there and that despite the ups and downs of Naga politics, it had withstood the bitter period of the past three decades. (See of NSCN manifesto p.2). He stated these, because the NNC was not a dead body. But he and Isak defected from the NNC and formed the NSCN. How then can the NSCN IM be considered as an authentic Naga political organization? It is but a faction that has defected from the NNC, and fighting against the Nagas. Therefore, right thinking Naga people can never consider the NSCN-IM as an organization serving the Naga nation.
Rh. Raising has talked about the support of the international organizations which is good. Here, if the NSCN IM is trying to internationalize the Indo-Naga case, I myself and the whole Naga people would support it. But let them stop negotiating with the Indian Government for a shared sovereignty or autonomous status within the Indian Constitution because Nagas have already declared their independence long ago and have their own Constitution. Telling lies and bringing false allegation against the NNC/FGN leaders will not benefit anyone but sincerely admitting your (NSCN-IM) own misdeeds will heal the wounds of all the Naga people.
