(An open letter to Lt VS Atem)
Thomas W Shapwon
Heimi Naga
Dear Lt VS Atem, I am writing this, my individual letter to you in the interest of our national reconciliation and to transform our society. I last met in July in 1979 at Hasik Nukniu village. You were a Lieutenant, Naga Army under the FGN. So, please don’t mind as I address you as Lieutenant.
Forty-five years we have wasted our times, achieving no important landmark. Despite it, you continued with your false propaganda according to your publication of May 8, 2024, under the caption “Why celebrate May 16, 1951, Plebiscite Day”. I am, therefore, compelled to highlight all of your falsehoods one by one started from 1980.
I am going to point out your publication May 8, 2024 ofNo.1-4, out of No. 9.
No. 1: You have mentioned about the Declaration of Independence on 14th August 1947 and the Plebiscite on May 16, 1951. We had been observing these Naga national Days in the Eastern Oking (Headquarters) after the Shillong Accord (SA) from 1976-1979. But after the establishment of NSCN in 1980, you purportedly ceased to observe them, claiming they had been dispelled with the signing of the Shillong Accord by the NNC in 1975.
You, however, resumed your scrutiny in 1997. This coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the NNC or Naga Independence Day. On that significant day, you published a souvenir of NSCN-IM. Furthermore, the observance of Plebiscite Day commenced in 2000 again. So, you’ve practically acknowledged that the NNC did not surrender, nor was the Shillong Accord a capitulation. However, in your written and spoken communications, you consistently assert falsehoods, claiming that the NNC surrendered andthe SA was a capitulation accord. If your word does not match your action, your words have is no value.
No. 2: You mentioned the 16-Point agreement and the SA that betrayed the unique history of Nagaland. But you cannot put the SA as the same page with the 16-point agreement. The 16-point agreement hampered the achievement of the NNC. Because the NPC (Naga People’s Convention) accepted a statehood under the Indian Union. If the NPC had not been hampered, the NNC might have achieved the recognition of our Independence in 1960s/1970s. The NNC President Dr AZ Phizo already reached in London on June 12, 1960. In Phizo’s brief biography, Dr Visier Sanyu wrote in May 1990: which reads:
(Quoted) “As soon as Phizo reached London, he made extensive tours and spoke to various groups, and delivered lectures in the universities across USA and Europe. His efforts gradually capture world opinion preparatory to presenting his case before the U.N. However, while he was on the threshold of getting concrete support from some western countries, his work suffered a severe setback. The news that Nagaland, through the Naga People’s Convention, had accepted statehood under the Indian Constitution by signing the 16-Point agreement hampered the task of presenting the Naga case before United Nations”. (unquote)
Therefore, you cannot say that SA and the 16-Point Agreement are the same category. The SA was not a surrender Accord. The GoI did not want to recognize the NNC/FGN and let the Naga leaders signed SA in the capacity of the Representatives of Underground Organizations only. It proved by the document itself. So, the GoI and FGN did not ratify it. Hence, the SA faced its instant death before the formation of NSCN. As it became invalid, not a single talk was held based on SA in between the two countries, in fifty years now.
After 22 years of the SA, the Prime Minister of India IK Gujaral, declared unconditional talks with the Naga National leaders to solve the Indo-Naga conflict in 1997. The declaration proved that there was no SA in the office of GoI. Hence, GoI made a new ceasefire agreement with your NSCN-IM faction, culminating in signing FA in New Delhi on 3rd August 2015. The FA is a valid document and in process for a political solution within the Indian Union. The Nagas are, therefore, saying, the FA is the same category with the 16-Point Agreement.
Socialism was the main factor for division.
As you were there in Eastern Oking and you know well that we condemned the SA signed by 48 officers of the civilian, I was with them, and Naga Army on August 15, 1976 led by Th Muivah, the then General Secretary ofthe NNC. This was the record of the NNC, but not of NSCN. We had done it after we observed 30th Naga Independence Day at Supao Village.
And yet, at the same place, the two leaders Isak and Muivah formed the NNC/FGN as one party one government, on the Parten of Socialism This was a starting point of division among us. Because most of the NNC/FGN leaders stood for the Naga traditional democracy and opposed socialism. The socialism was thus the main factor for division among us in Eastern Oking. On this new formation, the NNC President AZ Phizo became a President of FGN as well. In this regard, it is written in your NSCN-IM souvenir of 14th August 1997, which reads;
(Quote) “The NNC President AZ Phizo was unanimously elected to the Presidency of the Federal Government as well until he would openly go astray. The ministry functioned on full swing for three years from 1976-1978 under the name of NNC and the Federal Government.” (The NSCN-IM Souvenir, Page 12 of paragraph 10. Unquote)
Your writings proved that you did not condemn the NNC and AZ Phizo until NSCN was formed. Also, as the SA was none issue for us, you killed all those who signed to condemn SA on 15th August 1976, from November 1979 to January 3, 1980, because they rejected socialism. As the SA was null and void, to reject or condemn was none issue for the Nagas. But you had been using it for your political game up to date.
Why the two leaders were detained under house arrest?
Your false propaganda was: the two leaders were arrested because they condemn the SA. But the fact was, Th Muivah, the then NNC General Secretary led the last Naga Army Goodwill Mission to China.In China 1977, he advocated to form a socialist government by overthrowing Phizo’s leadership; saying, “Kunkun Phizo piche jabo, guli ekta ekta khabo”. (Whoever sides with Phizo will each get a bullet)”. You were in this mission.
In January 1978, you came back home but with widely divided because of Muivah policy. As soon as they reached the Eastern Oking in March 1978, the top Naga Army leaders prepared for a Military coup if and when Muivah forcefully overthrew Phizo’s leadership and formed a socialist government, because they rage against Muivah’s policy from China.
Without taking heed to our advice, Isak and Muivah rather adopted a resolution to overthrow Phizo’s leadership on 2nd August 1978 when the CCM meeting was held at Sector 2 Camp. After the resolution, Lt Col Vesazo Khamu went away with all Naga Army as heoutrageously rejectedthe resolution. And then the top Naga Army officers declared Martial Law on August 30, 1978as they prepared, and detained the two leaders (Isak-Muivah) under house arrest. It was not because they condemned SA, but because of socialism and rejected Phizo’s leadership.
Regarding Lt Col Visazo Khamu fleeing, Rh Raising, Steering Committee Convener of NSCN-IM stated the truth on September 27, 2016, the 36th Agony Day of NSCN-IM, which reads:
(Quote) “A few Naga Army led by Lt. Col. Visacho ran away from GHQ with hundreds of arms and hundreds of thousands of ammunitions. He went even to the extent of saying, “Whoever wants to join AZ Phizo he can come and join us, but whoever wants to join lsak and Muivah let him join them, but arms should be submitted to us because all arms belong to Phizo.” (Unquote).
Rh Raising’s statement further proved that there was no division among the Nagas on the matter of SA. But Th Muivah went on against Phizo’s leadership and stood for socialism, which created the two groups among us; such as those who stood for the Naga traditional democracy under the leadership of Phizo and the other one stood for Muivah’s leadership and his socialism. The formation of NSCN was proof and evidence that socialism was the main factor for division among us in Eastern Oking. (Read, “The detailed account of Shillong Accord and division among the Nagas” which was widely circulated online in September 2023. 52 pages only).
Why did you start telling lie?
It was unfortunate for all the Nagas that the two leaders did not attempt to solve the problem through compromise formula and mutual understanding, but ruthlessly killed all of their opponents, those who opposed socialism, the top leaders of NNC/FGN and top Naga Army officers. And then formed the so-called National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) on Jan 31, 1980 (after 2000 Nagalim). You, however, were afraid to disclose what the truth was. Because you might have thought that it would be a suicidal policy for you.
Hence, you opted to conceal the truth and give a false chargesheet against your opponents, the then decayed dead bodies, on March 11, 1980. Your false chargesheet was “they were the supporters of the Shillong Accord and traitors”. To give such false charge sheet against them, you took 68 days after the killings of the last victims on Jan. 3, 1980. In addition, you declared that the NNC surrendered and betrayed the nation by signing the SA. Also, you condemned the NNC President Dr AZ Phizo as arch-traitor. From then on you have started telling lies.
As you did not condemn the NNC, Late Isak Swu and Th Muivah were upholding the NNC offices as Vice President and General Secretary up to January 29, 1980, which was proved by a document signed by them, Isak, Muivah, and Khaplang, for a merger on Jan. 29, 1980. Only after the formation of NSCN, you started telling lies, saying; NNC surrendered and supporters of NNC were traitors. Henceforth, you started fighting against the NNC systematically. You killed the NNC/FGN leaders, Naga Army officers, and soldiers nearly three hundred. Also, you killed more than four thousand the innocent Nagas those who supported the NNC and did not support socialism. (Some lists of the victims were written in the book “Nagaland and Th Muivah’s Terrorist Activities”). Published in 2005. These human rights violations will not fit to be a member in the UNPO as well.
No. 3: a) and b) about you mentioned a recognition of unique history by the GoI.
If the unique history and sovereignty of Nagaland was recognized by the GoI in the Amsterdam Joint Communique on July 11, 2002 as you have stated in No 3. a), this is an achievement for the entire Naga people. Why then did you sign a Framework Agreement on 3rd August, 2015 again and demanded a political status from India again?
For the Nagas, unique history means; the Nagas had never fallen into any foreign domination in human history. To keep this unique history, the NNC leaders rejected a proposal for Crown Colony in 1946 and declared Independence in 1947. So, the Nagas have nothing to do with “demand” Your demand is a deviation from the Naga original stand. Because of this, Isak and Muivah were expelled from the NNC/FGN on September 2, 1980.
No. 4: You said, NNC signed Shillong Accord and betrayed the nation.
It is a blame game and blatant lie. I am not for a blame game, but you are doing such a blame game, because you wanted to shift the blame of the murders you have committed against your opponents on to the NNC/FGN by purportedly portraying the NNC signed the SA and betrayed the nation, the supporters of NNC were/are traitors, the Shillong Accord was the main factor for division and killing among the Nagas, and so on. You needed such false propaganda as soon as the formation of NSCN, so as to seduce the gullible and politically naive people in the past. But now the Nagas are no longer novices in the Naga national affairs and have come to know what truth is and will stand for truth as they are Christian people.
The truth you can never deny by now is that this year 2024, you have commemorated 74th the Naga national voluntary Plebiscite Day on May 16, along with all the Naga people, and you will also be observing the 78th Naga Independence Day in the forthcoming month on August 14, 2024, as you have observed 75th Platinum Jubilee of the Naga Independence Day in August 2021. With these your actions, you have acknowledged that the NNC did not betray the nation.
Indeed, the Shillong Accord was a miraculous performance of God to save Nagaland. In those days, 1975, the Nagaland faced horrendous and holocaustat the hands of Indian Army. The elderly Nagas who survived the holocaust still vividly recall the plight of those days. The Nagas thus compelled to sign the SA under duress.But the Nagas did not face such horrendous situation when the FA was signed. You have peacefully and diligently signed it.
In 1975, when Nagaland faced holocaust situation, God Almighty used our Naga national leaders like your Uncle Late Z Ramyo, Kavi Yallay, and others to save Nagaland from doom. Truly, it had not God, Nagaland might be a surrendered nation in the face of the world. And the Nagas may have lost a unique history. But God saved our nation from surrendering. And therefore, we are proudly celebrating Independence Day and Plebiscite Day till date. So, we need to thank God.
But instead, you had been using God’ miraculous work for your false propaganda which created contaminated society. In this regards Eno Z Lohe wrote on 29th March 2024, which appeared in Morung Express. (Quote) “The general public are tired of living in this contaminated atmosphere of what is true is false and what is false is true, what is good is bad and what is bad is good, and what is honest is abhorred and what is dishonest is craved after” (Unquote).
To transform our society, you and I have responsibility to do and the right-thinking people as well. As we are Christian people and stand “Nagaland for Christ”, we should not continue to tell lie as in the past. And we have to apply Christian ethics in serving our nation. Honesty and truthfulness should be the foundation of whatever we do for our people. Whatever we do should be to glorify our God (1 Cor. 10:31). We should value Christian life and principles. Telling lies, deceiving, cheating, money extortion, false accusation, false witness, torturing, and killings are not Christian ethics and principle, and neither glorifying God our Lord.
As mentioned above, your false propaganda and lies become no value and preposterous in the face of our people. Because the people have come to know what the truth is. So, it will be good and best for you, to speak and write of the truth following your actions, and thank God as He has saved our nation from doom. Then that will transform the entire Naga society and will be a big effort for reconciliation.
May God bless you.
