W Shapwon
Veteran Eastern Naga national leader
The support of Khaplang was indispensable for Muivah to carry out his policy or to form National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in those days (1979-1980) in Eastern part of Nagaland. In 1978, Muivah failed to convince Khaplang.
Why he failed to convince him in 1978 and how did he succeed in 1979, I would like to write again in brief for the interest of young scholars, with keen interest in Naga history. Because upto date, the supporters of Muivah are writing, stating that NNC (Naga National Council) surrendered and to defend the Naga nation, they had formed the NSCN. They know the truth of the Accord that it was signed by only in the name of underground organisations, not by the NNC/FGN. But they are telling lies.
Since the NNC did not surrender by signing the Accord of November 1975, Muivah formed one party one government, a centralized government on August 16, 1976 in Eastern Oking (Headquarters) under the banner of NNC. Also, Muivah made Isak as Vice President of NNC while the incumbent NNC Vice President Imkongmaren was still alive. He passed away on January 16, 1979.
Again, as NNC did not surrender, Th Muivah, NNC, General Secretary led the Naga Army goodwill Mission to China in 1977 along with 300 Naga Army and returned home in January 1978 with arms. But they were badly divided among the Naga Army because in this last trip to China, Muivah openly advocated overthrowing Phizo’s leadership and adopting socialism.
As soon as they reached the Eastern Oking in Khiamniungan Region, the Naga Army officers who raged against Muivah for his policy, prepared to overthrow his leadership by declaring Martial Law if and when he forcefully overthrows Phizo’s leadership and attempted to form socialistic form of government. Thus, none of Tangkhul Army officers were allowed to become adjutant and BSM at the Headquarters.
In April, 1978, Khaplang, President of Eastern Naga Revolutionary Council (ENRC) along with his Chief of Staff Brig Thungbo came to the NNC Oking, and we were together with them discussing about our differences (ENRC was formed on April 7, 1965 at Somra Village).
The points of discussion in April-May 1978 with Muivah, Isak, and Khaplang were (1) formation of a centralized and one party one government, which was formed by Muivah and Isak on 16th August, 1976, was the socialist system form of government and it was a gross violation of our Yehzabo (Constitution). The Yehzbo of Nagaland was adopted based on Naga democracy system. We should stand and defend the Yehzabo of Nagaland. The socialism will never be accepted by the Nagas at large. (2) We should not overthrow the leadership of Phizo because he has done nothing wrong against the Naga nation.
On these two points, Khaplang did not support Muivah saying, Muivah and Isak had no authority and power to form a new government on the way because they were authorized by the President of FGN, only to lead Naga Army goodwill Mission to China. Phizo was now an old man and after him, Muivah should become automatically President of NNC. Muivah, therefore, should not try to become NNC President by overthrowing him.
Moreover, Khaplang refused to merge with the new government of Muivah and Isak, which was formed in 1976, saying, it is not a recognized government. Muivah and Isak already arranged for merger on May 23, 1978 but failed as Khaplang rejected to sign with them.
We wanted to solve the problem democratically at the Tatar Hoho (Parliament) in May 1978. But Muivah and Isak did not summon the Tatar Hoho, knowing, their motion would be defeated and played delaying tactics. After two months, on August 2, 1978, a Central Committee meeting was held at Sector 2 Camp in Sikba Village, Lainong Region. Khaplang did not come for the meeting, and so, I, T Nenuh, and Brig Thungbo did not go to the meeting. At that time, Khaplang was in his Council Headquarters, Papung Village, and we were at Brig Thungbo’s Camp at Lachng Village, Heimi Region. Brig Thungbo’s Camp was in between Sector 2 Camp and Papung Village.
Even if most important leaders failed to attend the meeting, Muivah and Isak forcefully adopted a resolution to overthrow Phizo’s leadership on August 2, 1978. This triggered to the declaration of Martial Law by the Naga Army officers on August 30, 1978, and kept the two leaders under house arrest.
The Martial Law administrators announced that they have no interest for power but just they wanted to prevent the dictatorial role of Muivah, and after six months they will hand over the power to the people. Accordingly, they summoned the Naga national leaders’ meeting at Lao Konyak village and declared lifted Martial Law on March 9, 1979. And the case of Muivah and Isak was also handed over to the new government which would be formed.
The same day (March 9) afternoon, the NNC meeting was held chaired by Yamtsümong, President, Khiamniungan Regional Council, NNC. The purpose of the meeting was to elect a new Vice President of NNC. The meeting thus entrusted T Venuh Chakhesang as Vice President of NNC, rejecting NNC Vice Presidentship of Isak, which was made by Muivah on August 16, 1976, and recorded Imkongmeren’s leadership up to his last breath.
On March 10, 1979, a merger of the ENRC with the NNC was signed by ENRC President Eno Khaplang and NNC Vice President T Venuh. Hence, the Chapter of ENRC ended from then on. (14 years, 1965 to 1979). Khaplang did it, as he knew, the NNC did not surrender.
March 11 was Sunday, and on March 12, 1979, a Tatar Hoho was held and elected Khaplang to be President of FGN, rejecting a centralized, one-party, one government of Muivah and Isak which was formed as mentioned above. At the commencement of Tatar Hoho, Naga National Flag was hoisted by Capt Neitoulie Angami, but it was hung at half, cannot pull up or down, which was a precursor of killings the Naga national leaders Capt Neitoulies was also killed.
On the same (March 12) evening, the Council of Kilonser meeting was held, chaired by Khaplang. I was with them as Deputy Speaker of the Tatar Hoho. The main point to discuss in the meeting was the case of Muivah and Isak who were under house arrest. Mayanger Ao, Raliwali Kilonser (Publicity Minister) suggested releasing them unhurt, by dismissing their leadership. We all agreed with his suggestion (later Mayanger was killed by them).
Accordingly in May 1979, Khaplang went to the Camp where the two leaders were kept under House arrest at Hasik Nukniu Village to release them. He, however, was convinced by the two leaders, saying: the NNC has surrendered by signing the Shillong Accord, what the Eastern Nagas would do with the Shillong Accord. From then on, Khaplang changed his mind and started supporting Muivah’s policy.
In 1978, Muivah failed to convince Khaplang by advocating to form a socialist government and overthrowing Phizo’s leadership, but failed. He then used Shillong Accord and easily succeeded to convince Khaplang. Muivah also branded the supporters of NNC or who vehemently opposed his socialism as traitors and supporters of Shillong Accord.
As Muivah succeeded to convince Khaplang, the merger of ENRC with NNC was signed again on 29th January 1980. Isak and Muivah signed the document as Vice President and General Secretary of the NNC.
Contrary to their words, their document merger shows the fact that as the NNC did not surrender; they were upholding the NNC office up to 1980. Only on their own accord, Muivah and Isak defected from NNC on 31st January 1980. On the same day, they declared that NNC has failed and in order to defend the sovereignty of Nagaland they formed the NSCN. From 1976 to 1979, they never declare the NNC accepted the Shillong Accord or failed. But only on 31st January, 1980, they did it so as to justify their defection and formation of the NSCN. Now their actions proved that they do not defend the sovereignty of Nagaland, but destroyed it instead.
Their defection can never be projected as a failure of NNC. Also, as NNC did not surrender, they have no right to give chargesheet upon the dead bodies of the NNC/FGN leaders and top Naga Army officers (16 of them including Kilonser Mayanger), as traitors or supporters of Shillong Accord. They were killed by them in between November 1979 and 3rd January 1980. Yet, they were stunned by how to tell the people about their killings, and hence, embarrassingly given false chargesheet upon the dead bodies as the supporters of Shillong Accord or traitors. Because they were afraid of telling the truth that they were killed for opposing Muivah’s socialism.
Khaplang swallowed the lies of Muivah and supported him. Only after 8 years, he realized Muivah’s wrong policy and drive him out of the Eastern part of Nagaland. But he was not free from the vicious circle of Muivah’s socialism and his lies as he did not rid of them.
“It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies,” said by Noam Chomsky.
I was with Muivah and Isak, from January 1976 up to 1979. So, I know the truth and I am obliged to expose their lies.
The last meeting with Muivah was on June 12, 1979 at Nuklaw, Naga Army Headquarters, Heimi Region, after they were released in May 1979. Later, I met again with Isak on 14th August 1979, because he came from Naga Army HQ to his wife, Khuluin Pongshawm Village (nearby Hasik Nukniu). We were together to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Nagaland Independence Day at Pongshawm Village. Then after, on August 15, we started to go to Kohima through Arunachal, but were detained by Indian Police in Khunsa area on August 18. On March 29, 1982, I got a release from Indian Jail.
