Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Swu invites Khaplang’s deputy to Bangkok: Kohima, May 2: Two decades of hostilities later, the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim has invited Khole Konyak, commander-in-chief of its long-time bete noire NSCN (Khaplang), for talks in Bangkok. This is not the first time, though, that the NSCN (I-M) has written to the top leader of NSCN (K). In the past, too, several letters have been written to NSCN (K) chairman S.S. Khaplang and Konyak, but the manner and style of writing the letters had displeased the Khaplang group’s policy-makers. Highly placed sources said Konyak has received a letter from the chairman of the NSCN (I-M) Isak Chishi Swu inviting him to come to Bangkok for talks to push forward the ongoing reconciliation and unification process among the Naga warring groups. However, there were no details about the letter sent by Swu, but sources said its purpose was to iron out the differences and push forward the reconciliation and unity process initia...

Manipur-posted soldiers gain experience: Guwahati, Dec. 27: Four decades after Thuingaleng Muivah led a team of Naga National Council (NNC) members to China for training in guerrilla warfare, the Chinese army is helping India deal with militancy. Brig D.S. Dadwal, the head of the Indian contingent that participated in the first joint military exercise between the two countries -- Hand-in-Hand 2007 -- said on his return today that the common aim of the neighbours was to eliminate the “scourge of terrorism”, The contingent, drawn from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry unit posted in Bishnupur district of Manipur, believes the experience of a joint exercise with China will help it conduct counter-insurgency operations better. “Such exercises definitely help you to hone your skills and use them at Ground Zero,” Brig. Dadwal said. The five-day drill was conducted at the Kunming Military Academy in Yunnan province of China. Battalion commander Col J.S. Budhwar said a mock hostage rescue d...

Muivah questions Niuland pact: Dimapur, Dec 21: After a month of keeping silent over the “Niuland Unity Declaration”, NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said on Friday that no Naga hates unity but a conglomeration of different kinds of people with different shades of opinion in a place cannot be termed as unity. Th Muivah in his statement said, “It goes without saying that everyone is for unity and no one is for division. I can affirmatively say that no Naga hates unity. Like it or not, unity among brethren or a people in principle, for a common future is not an option; it is a must. Therefore, unity among Nagas in their National salvation line is a necessity and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) stand for that”. The NSCN leader then countered with the poser, “But can we say a conglomeration of different kinds of people with different shades of opinion in a place as unity? Certainly not, that is only a crowd which has nothing to do with the politics of unity. An in...

'Unification that wasn't': FOR all the rumour and speculation that flew around, the NSCN factions will unite only when chairman Isak Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah so desire. Let alone reunion, Muivah has long said that even ''reconciliation cannot be forced, it has to come naturally''. The Naga Hoho's reconciliation campaign initiated in December 2001 floundered after Muivah came down harshly on the appointment of some office-bearers and all members of the reconciliation committee quit en masse in protest. He provided the unkindest cut when he said Naga civil society was ''biased'' in its efforts to push ''reconciliation'' and unity efforts. Those whom the NSCN(IM) leaders are supposed to consult at every stage of political development are, more or less, silent spectators to what is going on. So it comes as no surprise that Isak and Muivah have politely told the so-called Unification Team to leave well enoug...