NSCN (IM) commemorates Th Muivah’s 60 years of service

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 23

The NSCN (IM) leadership paid glowing tributes to its Ato Kilonser, Thuingaleng Muivah, commemorating the Naga leader’s 60th year in the Naga national service at its Council Headquarters, Camp Hebron, on March 23, 2024. The day also coincided with Muivah’s 90th birthday. 

The celebration had in attendance the top leadership from the organisational and military set up led by Vice President, Tongmeth Wangnao and Deputy Ato Kilonser, Lt Gen (retired) VS Atem and the Commander-in-Chief or ‘Longvibu’ of the NSCN (IM)’s Naga Army, Anthony Ningkhan Shimray. 

There was also a host of well-wishers from the Naga civil society organisations— Naga Hoho, Global Naga Forum, Naga Mothers’ Association, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Tirap, Changlang & Longding People’s Forum, Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Naga Students’ Federation, Eastern Naga People’s Organisation, United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, Eastern Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Council Dimapur, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union and All Naga Students’ Association Manipur. 

Deputy Ato Kilonser, VS Atem, led the procession of tributes tracing Muivah’s journey as a student in the early 1960’s and joining the NNC in 1964. At a time when there were hardly any Nagas with an education, Atem said that Muivah, with a Post Graduate degree, stood out.  He likened Muivah’s election to the post of the NNC General Secretary in 1965 to God anointing David. 

He described Muivah as possessing not only great organizational skill but one, who has weathered the ebb and flow of the Naga movement, while lending legitimacy to the Naga cause to an international audience. 

He made mention of some significant events that shaped the course of the Naga movement, among which included the second expedition to China in 1974-75, of which Atem was a member, and the signing of the Shillong Accord that eventually led to the formation of the NSCN under the leadership of Muivah, Isak Chishi Swu and SS KHaplang.

According to him, they had a tough time convincing the Chinese, when they got news of the Accord while in China in November 1975. He said that they reached out to the NNC President, AZ Phizo, on self-imposed exile in London, to renounce the Accord but Phizo allegedly did not. 

“But somehow we convinced them. And we told them, we will go back, and we will organize our people, and we will come back again to you,” he recalled. 

On the return journey, Muivah was wounded in a gunfight. In August 1976, the Shillong Accord was rejected by the NNC National Assembly and Phizo was urged to condemn it. It was followed by a coup in 1978 that saw Muivah and Isak being imprisoned and dismissed from “national service” allegedly on concocted charges. 

Atem said that the turn of events compelled Muivah and Isak to form the NSCN, along with Khaplang, who was said to have not accepted the charges.  Things did not turn out well, however, when the NSCN splintered into two.

Through all the upheavals, and a later imprisonment in Bangkok, he said, “Our General Secretary and also our Chairman, late Isak Chishi Swu stood like rock.”

President or Yaruiwo, Q Tuccu, could not attend owing to a health issue. His message, conveyed through an aide, recalled Muivah’s contribution beginning in the 1960s and through to the 1990s while cultivating the political legitimacy to the Naga movement. According to Tuccu, Muivah’s international campaign resulted in “Nagalim” becoming a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in 1993. Along with the late Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, “you achieved another milestone when you signed the historic Framework Agreement with the government of India in August 3, 2015,” Tuccu’s message said. 

Vice President Tongmeth Wangnao attributed the Government of India (GoI) understanding the reality and recognising the Naga history as unique. Wangnao recollected first seeing Muivah in 1966 at the former’s village. “That was your first Alee command and since then you have never looked back,” he said.