Rtd. Gen T.M. Keyho
Rtd. Capt Sanguto Chase
“Nagas’ Missed Opportunity” by Isak Sumi appeared in various papers of Nagaland on 18th and 21st Oct. 2012. After careful discussions with other concerned veteran Naga National Workers, we, whose names appear below, have felt the article calls for certain clarifications from our side also, since no one has bothered to bring out the true story till date. We have considered giving this response to be our responsibility as it was our proud privilege to give all we had, risking everything with countless other Nagas for the dear cause of our land and people and were also directly involved in some of the events Isak Sumi has described and commented on. We respect the feelings and convictions with which he has spoken out. However, to us some of his accusations and conclusions are generalized assumptions, not factual and even recklessly one-sided. Our main concern in making this response is that needless misunderstanding, distrust and resentment may not be passed on to the coming Naga generations.
The main accusation in the article was that Indira Gandhi’s offer of a Bhutan-status settlement proposal to the Nagas was rejected by A.Z. Phizo, the then President of Naga National Council (NNC). This is not true. There was never any settlement proposal from either Indira Gandhi or from the Govt. of India (GOI). “Bhutan status”, as alleged, was never raised or heard of by any side in the six rounds of talks in New Delhi. These are instances of baseless assumptions.
It was resolved by the Tatar Hoho (Parliament) that J.K. Sukhai, Ato Kilonser, Federal Government Nagaland (FGN), was to be sent along with Z. Ramyo, Isaac Swu, Zashei Huire, Megometo (Darülie) Krose, M. Chumbemo Murry, Gen. A. Makhen, Tsilise and Khondao Jami to New Delhi for the talks as a necessary process of the Ceasefire Agreement between GOI and FGN, with the consensus mandate of Tatar Hoho. The Ato Kilonser was made accountable to the Tatar Hoho by its resolution of 23rd August 1967. It was not to A.Z. Phizo as alleged in the said article. No doubt, the Ceasefire was achieved under the leadership of Phizo, however he was never brought in the picture in the said Delhi talk.
In the last of the six rounds of talks Indira Gandhi suggested that Ato Kilonser J.K. Sukhai and she have a talk in private. It was learnt from the talk that, Indira Gandhi said “Mr. Sukhai ask anything except sovereignty”. Our leader Sukhai promptly and confidently replied “I will take nothing except sovereignty”. Sukhai’s unequivocal instantaneous response was very well appreciated by all although some pointed out that Nagas were not asking India to give sovereignty as our history had already given that to us and the Naga struggle was to defend it.
The day after the meeting of the Prime Ministers of GOI and FGN, all the delegates from Nagaland staying at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, went out to meet some dignitaries and relatives. Only Krose stayed behind. During that day a telephone message came from the External Affairs Ministry of GOI to the reception which Krose received. The message said Indira Gandhi would be going to Europe for some urgent official tour and the talk may be continued only after her return and the date of her return was indefinite.
The delegates were angry as they regarded the message to be an act of mischief and a treacherous insult. A press conference was called, in which they declared there was deadlock in the talks with the GOI and as such the same talk would not be continued. Mrs. Gandhi denied there was plan for a trip to Europe and claimed it to be a miscommunication. However the Naga delegates returned home as to them the talk had come to a deadlock. The treatment was regarded as treacherous and humiliating. Therefore the question of rejection of a political proposal by some other person/community “misled by narrow anti-Sumi propaganda i/e any political settlement brought about under Sumi’s leadership would cause to serve Sumi’s interest and therefore the Nagas instead shall chose to be under India’s domination rather than be subjected to Semis” with vested selfish interest on tribal line as alleged by Isak Sumi does not arise. These accusations are not only untrue but recklessly one-sided and need clarifications hence this response.
Gen Kaito was made the Minister of Defense in the FGN. It was at his order that all arms, ammunitions, wireless sets, and other heavy weapons were taken away from the GHQ of the C-in-C Naga Army, Gen Mowu, at Bapfü village of Poumai region, as well as from the Ahng of Patkai State, and Sema Battalions. He then declared himself the head of “Army Govt. Nagaland”. It did not exist for long. Earlier, having learnt that Gen. Kaito secretly planned to attack Gen. Mowu’s camp at Bapfü village, JK Sukhai had told Gen. Mowu to go to his GHQ and take all precautionary measures. Gen. Mowu failed to act in time as he could not believe the reported plan from his trusted comrade could be true. It was learnt that Gen. Kaito came back frustrated after meeting A.Z. Phizo in London.
There is no question of our defending A.Z. Phizo’s short comings whatever they may be. But he was the President of NNC only. He was not the President of FGN, as carelessly alleged in the article. All the legislative, executive and financial powers of the Govt. were in the hands of J.K. Sukhai, Ato Kilonser FGN, and Scato Swu the President of FGN. Kaito the then C- in- C of Naga Home Guards, became Defense Minister in FGN, he was never Chief of Army in FGN nor he was removed by FGN as alleged by Isak Sumi. All of them did very well, holding all the key posts in the FGN. They were popular, charismatic and courageous and were trusted and supported by their top Naga colleagues in the national struggle. But because of Kaito’s aforesaid activities the high ranking officers in the FGN as well as NNC became very apprehensive that the Ato Kilonser and the President FGN did not control the blatantly illegal and destructive actions of the Defense Minister, such as creating the Army Govt. and making himself its head. And we do not agree that “the leadership’s cynical attitude infused with tribalism held precedence over political expediency which in turn disabled the leaders to measure the substance and prospects of the proposed political settlement (the best offer of the times)”, as alleged in the article.
Viewed against the clear perspectives the intervening years now give us, the impeachment of Scato Swu the then President FGN and the subsequent change from the parliamentary form of Govt. to the Presidential form was a costly blunder. Swu was wrongly and forcefully impeached by a simple majority of two votes at the 22nd session of Tatar Hoho held at Tongpangti Camp at the Ao Region village of Yongyimsen from 7th – 9th Sept. 1966 on the charge of not sanctioning 2.5 crore rupees for defense budget which was presented by the Defense Minister. Scato Swu has repeatedly said it was not possible for him to give a quick decision as he did not see how our people in the villages could be told to raise such a huge amount at the time. The two votes mentioned were decisive and they were said to be “manipulated Tatar members”. Then R. Suisa’s agenda to change the Govt. from Parliamentary form to the Presidential form of Govt. was brought to the FGN. Under heavy pressure, the National Assembly was held from 22nd – 24th May 1968 at Chiedema under the chairmanship of J.K. Sukhai. After hot debate, the matter was put to vote for a decision by the Tatar Hoho. The Parliamentary form of Govt. was defeated in spite of strong opposition with 17 votes by 18 votes, resulting in the abolition of the post of Ato Kilonser, the dissolution of the Tatar Hoho and the posts of the Tatars on 25th Oct. 1968 as per the said decision. In both aforesaid cases Dobu (Dolhucha) Chase, Zashei Huire and G. Mhiasiu and their supporters firmly stood for Scato Swu and J.K. Sukhai for the sake of Naga unity and nationality.To assist the President of the FGN, an Advisory Council was constituted, headed by J.K. Sukhai as its Chairman, with Jerenkoba, A. Makhen, Khondao Jami, Z. Ramyo as members. They were not dismissed in the manner as projected and alleged in the article.
It was true as stated in the article that Gen Kaito was gunned down on August 3, 1968, in Kohima. He died the next day. As fate would have it, the sad and painful reality was that it fell to Capt. Arüno to carry out the order as a soldier on duty in the Kohima area. Arüno was killed not long after by Assam Rifles soldiers in Khonoma because he had been identified as the one who had killed Gen. Kaito. The crisis of distrust that had divided the Naga struggle and which led to the killing of one of its high profile leaders revealed how far the Naga struggle had entered into unanticipated unfamiliar territory and become unmanageably destructive to itself and its people. The tragedy was equally merciless for Arüno because he had given his life for the cause of his people and nation, not for what ended up as his grim duty as a soldier. However, we thank God for His grace and mercy that between the two concerned Sumi and the Angami families reconciliation was achieved during the life time of J.K. Sukhai and Mowu which has become widely known. Our intention in narrating this most difficult episode in our story is not to prove or justify anything but is an endeavor to be factual and truthful to the said reconciliation so that God may intervene and do for us what we cannot do.
Revolutionary Govt. Nagaland (RGN) was formed prior to this tragic incident. In the meantime Gen Mowu, the C- in- C of Naga Army returned from China with 350 well trained soldiers, with an impressive consignment of sophisticated weapons. After re-entering our own Naga homeland, the returning fighters reached a Sangtam village which was opposite the Phisami camp of RGN army. The villagers warned the party there could be danger for them as according to them things had changed drastically. Capt. Yeshiho of the returning army officers replied there was no room for suspicion as all were the same Naga people committed to the same goal. The returning Nagas worked their way to Col. Zukiye’s camp at Phisami on 5th March 1969. They soon began to realize that all was not well when a written Ahza came from Gen. Zuheto Swu C- in- C in RGN that all the heavy arms and ammunition were to be deposited in the Quarter Guard (QG) of the said camp. Capt. Sanguto refused to accept the order. Col. Zukiye told them they could keep their equipment that night.
The next day it was agreed that the war equipment they had brought would be kept in the QG and guarded jointly by the returnees and the Revolutionary Govt. (RG) soldiers under Gen. Zuheto. Next they agreed the two sides would take turns for guard duty. The third night when the RG soldiers were on duty, a group under Gen. Hokiye, according to Col. Zukiye, came and took all the equipment away. Gen. Mowu’s party did not know what had happened. In no time formations of the Indian army appeared and surrounded Col. Zukiye’s camp in three encirclement rings. The fourth night Gen. Mowu and Col. Lhouvicha who were in Col. Zukiye’s quarters were woken from their sleep, handcuffed at gun point and handed over by RG soldiers to the Indian army outside the camp. This happened when the rest of Gen. Mowu’s party were sound asleep in a different area of the camp.
The fifth day Capt. Sanguto had a meeting with Col. Zukiye in his office. The Colonel said “You must be bitter and angry that all you have brought have been taken away from you”. Sanguto replied “You know we are. We have not bought them with money, but with our sweat and blood. But if we are united to achieve our goal it will not be difficult to acquire better weapons than what we have brought. You have betrayed Mowu and Lhouvicha to the Indian Army and taken them to New Delhi. I have heard this from All India Radio. You can do the same to us now. But we all have relations at home. If one day they will act in revenge what will that do for the future of the Nagas? This is what I am worried about”. Col. Zukiye was angry. But after some time he said “I am Zukiye. I have served the Nagas all these years. I have fought the Indians more than two hundred times and have been wounded two times. Now I know God and I am a Christian. And I will never betray the Nagas.”
One night Col. Vikugha, Commander of Signals, an officer close to Gen. Kaito, came looking for Sanguto. He said “Tomorrow you will be taken to Kohima side. You may be taken to different places. You may be interrogated using torture methods. You may be flown above the sea and threatened to be dropped down or to be hanged. But have no fear and tell the truth. I know who Gen. Mowu is, who Capt. Aruno is, who Sanguto is. All will be well”. Sanguto replied “I do not know what you and your group plan to do. But you go ahead. I have nothing to say and can do nothing against your plan. We are in your hands now.” Vikugha then asked “Are you worried or afraid?” Sanguto replied “I am not afraid nor am I worried. I am only concerned what will happen in the future if we Nagas will treat one another like this”. He brought a bottle of rum to share with him. Sanguto did not accept it.
The next morning the remaining returnees were taken to the Indian Army helipad outside Phisami village. On one side of the road they walked stood Indian soldiers on the other side stood the RG soldiers. As they walked between them they realized they had come back to a totally different situation. They were flown first to Sakhaba Indian Army Brigade HQ. There the Brigade Adjutant, Capt. Badjel, one day enquired if we received the ration supplies of rum and other items that had been sent for us. Sanguto said they had been purchasing them. Badjel replied “I see, Phisami camp Naga soldiers have made money out of what was sent for you”. A few days later they commenced their journey by truck and then by train to Hazaribagh Central Jail, Bihar. Captain Yeshiho was released after a year. The others stayed on in jail for more than 7 years. Isak Sumi was taking too much liberty with the truth to state that RGN leaders had cautioned Gen Mowu to delay their return to Nagaland from China since the situation was too volatile, however Gen Mowu failed to pay heed to the warning as claimed in the article.
What we have said is our humble attempt to address the complications, blunders, distrust, bitterness and hatred that have taken place because we care for the legacy we are passing on to the coming generations. The priceless reconciliation mentioned earlier may not be taken lightly, so that no further divisions may take place between the God-made brethren of ours. It is high time we bury the past resentments and hates which basically originate from the psychology of a defeated cause. We need to help one another to become free from the things that enslave our hearts. The Naga cause is not defeated till date. Let bygone be bygone. In a revolution, as it progresses potholes are found, the longer the duration, the bigger the lesson. We should not accept that we have lost our cause and instead look forward to the future where we should not fail in our responsibility. Our cause boils down to defense of our political rights, sovereignty, integration and integrity. We honestly believe the statements above to be the bare truth; however, if there should be anything you see which we have not seen and ought to see and be helped thereby, we hope and pray you will kindly lend a brotherly helping hand to rectify us in the spirit of reconciliation and create better mutual understanding, so that peace and harmony may be restored in our big Naga family.
