Thomas
NNC Member
In the interest of researchers, young educated Nagas of today, I would like to share my past experience since 1976 on “What has gone wrong in history” as follow. All these can be found in my book, Nagaland and Th. Muivah’s Terrorist Activities, and the Detail account of Shillong Accord and Division among the Nagas.
In March 1967, the first Naga Army Goodwill Mission to China was sent by the Late Sacto Sumi, President of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN). The Mission was led by Eno Th Muivah,General Secretary of the NNC, along with 150 soldiers under the Command of Brig. Thinoselie M Kayho. Before the Goodwill Mission had started, Eno Th. Muivah,convened a meeting with public leaders, along with the Late Rev. Longri Ao at Tamkho Konyak Village and a prayer service was carried out by Rev. LongriAo for the Mission.
In the meeting,Rev. Longri Ao said, “Now you are going to China to procure arms and ammunition, but do not bring socialism to Nagaland”. Muivah gave a reply to him that“I will put all Nagas in my pocket like I put my pen into my pocket (showing them putting a pen into his pocket). And whoever opposes my policy, I will kill them like a tiger killing its prey.” (Related by EnoThüngo Konyak from Tobu Town in June 2004 who attended the meeting, Tamkho village is nearby Tobu Town).
When they reached China in 1967, Th. Muivah started to criticize the policy of A.Z. Phizo, the president of the NNC. When Brig. Thinoselie supported and defended the policy of Phizo, Muivah scolded him. To this, Brig. Thinoselie replied: “Am I wrong that I support our leader?” Muivah then said: “You are supporting Phizo because Phizo belongs to the Angami tribe as you are. But I will never agree with Phizo’s policy, I will go on my own way.” (Related by Lt. Gen. Thinoselie on 13th December 2003 when I met him at his residence).
In 1968, the Naga Army Alee (Foreign) Mission under the command of Brig. Thinoselie returned home, but Th. Muivah stayed in China and returned only in 1972. As Muivah reached Nagaland, he openly criticized the policy of Phizo, saying: “Phizo’s policy is wrong; therefore, I decided myself to be apart from Phizo.” (Related by elder leaders of FGN).
Again, the Kedahge of FGN Late Zashei Huire Chakhesangsent Th. Muivah and Late Isak Swu to China again in 1974. They were sent in two batches. Eno Th. Muivah and the group were sent in September, and Isak’s group in November. These were the 9th and 10th trips of Alee (Foreign) Mission. When leaving Nagaland Th. Muivah expressed these words to his compatriots who would remain at home: “If not myself, Phizo and Imkongmeren (President and Vice President of the NNC) will never make any achievement for the Nagas.”(Related by Ao elders).Later it came to know, that this means he wanted to be apart from them.
In China, 1975, Th. Muivah tried to convince the Naga delegation members to support his policy. But Brig. Ngamlao Konyak and Eno Thepuse Venuh Chakhesang strongly opposed Muivah’s policy. They opposed it because,Muivah’s policy was to forsake the Naga traditional democracy and adopt socialism. Brig. Ngamlao was an outspoken man; he therefore frankly and without fear said: “We will have to establish a base area in the Eastern part of Nagaland, but we should not allow Th. Muivah to stay in the base area. Because if he stays in Eastern Nagaland, partition would take place among the Nagas.” As Brig. Ngamlao strongly opposed his policy, Muivah killed him on 3rd December 1975 in Kachin land at 2nd Brigadearea while they were returning to Nagaland. (Related by T Venuh in 1978 at Brig. Thungbo’s Lanchin Camp).
The Alee Mission group led by Muivah and Isak, along with 150 Naga army personnel under the command of Col Vedai Moire Chakhesang reached Eastern Nagaland on 6, January 1976. As soon as they reached Nagaland soil, Muivah and Isak convened an official meeting at Langkhiang village on 9-10th January 1976. For me it was the first time to meet them.
All Naga army officers and Khiamniungan Regional officials attended the meeting. In the meeting, Muivah asked, “Shall we accept the Shillong Accord (SA)?”But all the civil officials and Naga army officers said, “We have nothing to do with the Shillong Accord.” Yet, Lt. Col. Supong Ao suggested, whether the Accord was good for the Nagas or the enemy, what the Accord was or why it was signed, we should first inquire about it. So, we should send a reasonable and understandable Naga Army officer to meet our senior leaders in Kohima. But Th. Muivah had a different policy from that of senior leaders in the West and kept silent.
However, four of Tangkhuls led by Lt.Col. Pamrei were sent to Tangkhul Region from Phalungtung Village, the 22nd Battalion Camp in the first week of February 1976. Seeing they were going, Angami and Chakhesang leaders sent Capt. Neitoulie Angami, along with them. And they went via Amimi area and they safely reached Tangkhul Region.
But Capt. Neitoulie was not allowed to go to the Chakhesang and his Angami Region, but sent him back to the Eastern Oking after staying two months in Tangkhul Region. He came along with Maj. Proning and the other seven Tangkhul soldiers in May 1976. With this, Angami and Chakhesang officers were greatly disappointed with Tangkhuls, and were thinking, what they are going to play the political game in the Eastern Oking (HQ)?
If Muivah and his henchmen had no deliberate intention to use the SA for their political propaganda, they have no reason to prevent Capt. Neitoulie to go to meet the senior leaders.
After we observed the 30th Naga Independence Day on 14th August, 1976, in Eastern Oking,on 15th August, we declared condemnation of SA unanimously, 48 of us signed the document. Next day, on 16th August, Th.Muivah, NNC General Secretary and IsakSwu, Chaplee Kilonser (Finance Minister) of FGN, formed the NNC/FGN on the pattern of Socialism. Additionally, on the same day, Eno Isak was made as NNC Vice President by Muivah while the incumbent NNC Vice President Eno Imkongmaren Ao was still alive and intact in the office. (He passed away on January 16, 1979).
The new formation of the government created division among us in Eastern Oking. Because, most of the leaders refused to accept socialism,but stood for the Naga traditional democracy and to defend the Yezahbo (Constitution) of Nagaland. This new formation of government was written in NSCN-IM’s souvenir of 1997, on page 12 of paragraph 10.
After the new formation of the government Th. Muivah went to China again along with 300 Naga soldiers under the Command of Brig. Vedai Moire. In China, Muivah strongly advocated for forming the Socialist government and overthrowing Phizo’s leadership. Even he warned the soldiers,saying that if anyone sided with Phizo would have one bullet each. As a result, they were completely divided in China. Those who were not for socialism stood to support Phizo’s leadership, and those who stood for socialism, supported Muivah.
The Chinese leaders sensed the lack of cohesiveness among the Nagas due to Muivah’s policy, the Chinese authorities did not issue full equipment to the 300 Naga soldiers as before, but only 260 arms and ammunition were given to 300 soldiers, saying; they will not fight the enemy, but will be going to fight among themselves alone. This was told by a training instructor, a Chinese, who spoke Burmese. (Reported by Heimi Nagas soldiers).
As soon as, Goodwill Mission reached the Eastern Oking in March 1978, Th. Muivah was unequivocally advocating for overthrowing Phizo’s leadership, saying that, because of Phizo, Chinese Authorities did not give us full arms and ammunition. We have to form the socialist government, and our chairman must be in Beijing, but not in a democratic nation. On the other hand, the Naga Army officers were prepared to declare Martial Law if Muivah forcefully overthrowing Phizo’s leadership and to form a socialist government. Because they felt rage against Muivah started from China.
Knowing all these, in April 1978, we, the civilian leaders, requested Muivah and Isak not to adopt socialism and neither to go against Phizo’s leadership, but have to firmly uphold the Yezahbo of Nagaland. They,however,never took heed of our advice, rather they adopted a resolution to overthrow Phizo’s leadership on 2nd August 1978. This resolution led to declare Martial Law on 30th August 1978 in Eastern Oking, and the two leaders (Isak-Muivah) were kept under house arrest. This was the true reason that why the two leaders were kept under house arrest. But they told lies that because they condemned the SA and they were arrested by the supporters of SA. The fact was that no supporter of SA was in Eastern Oking.
Martial Law administrators declared that they have no interest for power but just to hinder Muival’s dictatorial role, and will hand the power over to the civilians after six months. Accordingly, Martial Law was lifted on 9th March 1979. In the afternoon, the NNC meeting was held and elected Eno T. Venuh as Vice President of the NNC, disregarding Late Isak’s leadership made by Muivah on 16th August 1976.
On 10th March 1979, the merger of the Eastern Naga Revolutionary Council (ENRC) with the NNC was signed by the Vice President of NNC Eno T. Venuh and Eno Khaplang, President of the ENRC. This was the end of ENRC chapter, which was formed on 7 April 1965.
Soon after ENRC joined the NNC, Khaplang was elected as President of the FGN on March 12,1979 at the Tatar Hoho,and Brig. Thungbo was appointed Chief in Command (C-in-C) of the Naga Army. In fact, the President of FGN and C-in-C of the Naga Army were intact in the Western side of Oking. But Muivah was playing with the SA in Eastern Oking, we were compelled to do it, in order to prevent division among us in Eastern Oking.
As a new ministry under the leadership of Khaplang, agreed to release Isak and Muivah from house arrest, and they were set free from the house arrest in May 1979. Then the two leaders came to stay with Khaplang at Khaplang’s Oking at Papung Village.
Since Khaplang was fully convinced by the two leaders, they convened a general meeting of the national workers at Papung village on 10th October 1979, chaired by Eno Koikhip, then Chairman of the Heimi Region. The main agenda of the meeting was, to discuss for more understanding to form a socialist government. But T Venuh strongly opposed it, saying; “it is not proper and wise to adopt a new government based on socialist principle but to stand firm on NNC as it is the only authentic political institution of the Nagas. Moreover, it would certainly bring a great setback in the history of the Nagas.”He further appealed the house to reconsider the matter since the majority of the Nagas shall never accept socialism. However, Muivah, the General Secretary of the NNC, blatantly rejected T Venuh’s suggestion, shouted; the NNC surrendered by signing the Shillong Accord and that we had no option to choose, but to form a socialist government to save Nagaland. (Related by Koikhip in Jan. 1991, when I met him again after 12 years).
After the meeting of October, Muivah, Isak, and Khaplang conspired to kill all the NNC/FGN leaders and Naga army officers, who opposed socialism. In this plan, Khaplang summoned all the Naga national leaders and Naga Army officers for a meeting in November 1979, to have unity based on mutual understanding and a compromise formula. The Naga national leaders and Naga Army officers welcomed the meeting program as a good gesture for unity among the Nagas, and thus, they came for the meeting. But Isak and Muivah captured all of them and killed them. Some of them were killed on the way. They opposed socialism is not a case of treason, and they were not deserved to be killed. The Naga national leaders killed by them were;Angami, Chakhesang, Ao, Khiamniungan, Tangkhul, Sumi, and Konyak Brig. Ngamlao.In those days other Naga tribes were not present in Eastern Oking. I thank God as He saved me for,I was in the Indian Jail from August 1979 to March 1982.
If Muivah had realized and stopped adopting socialism, nothing would have gone wrong in history. Also, after they were released from house arrest, and had they complied with a compromise formula for unification among them, how good it would be in history. But they killed them all. Then they formed the so-called NSCN on 31st January 1980. Moreover, they deviated from the Naga original stand and started to stand for a Suisa’s proposal. By all these, they had committed wrongs in history. Because of Suisa’s proposal, the NSCN split into two factions again in April 1988.Now it is FA (Framework Agreement).
After the killings, they told lies that the SA was the main factor for division and contention among the Nagas,instead of admitting the truth that socialism created division. Why did they told lies that the NNC surrendered, and the SA was a capitulation Accord? The fact was that the division among us on socialism has no connection with the SA, and neither the false accusation against the NNC for surrendering. The Eastern Oking was outside of the SA.
Indeed,the Shillong Accord became null and void in itself was a miraculous work of God, and Naga nation was saved from the political doom in 1975. The document of the Accord proved it perfectly. Instead of thanksgiving to God,they told lies, and wrongly using the SA for false accusation against their fellow Nagas and committed killings is a sin and against God. The Nagas are thus suffering from disunity is a curse of God.
The above-mentioned story is truth and not blaming them. The leaders killed by them were not the supporters of SA. But they gave false charge sheet upon rotten dead bodies as supporters of the SA is a blame game. In addition, they condemned the NNC leaders as traitors, is also a blame game. The Naga nation did not surrender because the NNC leaders never betrayed the nation is a fact.It is not claiming individual rights, but telling the truth of Naga national right.
Unless the present generation retrospect what has gone wrong in history, and take their stand based on the Naga national history or principle, uphold the truth, and trust in God Jesus Christ, they will bring no reconciliation and national unity at their time too.
