Born and brought up in Nagaland and someone who had baptism
into journalism in Nagaland itself in early 1990s – when the writ of Isak
Chishi Swu and his compatriot Thuingaleng Muivah as NSCN (IM) bosses writ large – I am not quite
sure whether Swu rejoiced the tag of being called a guerrilla or an "underground" rebel leader.
Nevertheless, Swu, who like A Zapu Phizo will continue to
dominate Naga politics one way or the other, perhaps never aspired to be known
as a militant leader. So much was his love for Gospel teaching, that it is not
wrong to recall him as a rebel – who believed in the magical power of ‘Nagaland
for Christ’.
Isak Chishi Swu, chairman of National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(NSCN-IM), breathed his last on June 28, 2016. It only shows rebel leaders and guerrilla fighters often directly and indirectly
responsible for bloodshed and ambushes, bomb blasts and beheading of Indian
army jawans in the name of “movements” too have to die.
This only
proves that at some point even rebel leaders find their time is up. But Isak
Swu would be best remembered as a rebel with a difference.
Old timers in
Nagaland including among those in the army – who fought his men – would perhaps
best remember Swu as a “rarest of his breed” for he held Bible close to his
heart than the gun. Perhaps his colleague of many years Thingaleng Muivah had at times tried to remake the NSCN (IM) and even Swu a reflection of his own
image — a tough fighter - but this is where Muivah and Swu had differed.
In the words of a former corps commander in Nagaland, while NSCN
(IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah was
the hardcore militant leader and a pragmatic guerrilla operative, Swu had been a
man who immensely believed in the power of God and the magical strength of
‘Nagaland for Christ’ slogan coined after the duo had visited China.
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| The deadly duo: Muivah and Swu |
Left to him Swu would say, it is by the
“guidance of Holy Spirit that have seen me through this far”, courtesy his
Facebook posting, security apparatus in Nagaland and northeast knew that Muivah
was the real "rebel leader". Even the Late Rajesh Pilot, as Internal Security Minister in P V Narasimha Rao government, had said that working out any peace initiative would have been easier with Swu than Muivah.
The death of Chairman of National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(IM faction) Isak Chishi Swu certainly has created a void in Naga politics. But
his absence would be felt more by his compatriot for many years Thuingaleng
Muivah and to an extent by the peace negotiators on behalf of the government of
India.
The truth of the matter is Isak Chishi Swu was the real and
powerful unifying factor for his group and Tangkhul Nagas (who are essentially from
Manipur) and other Naga tribesmen in the present state of Nagaland. Hailing
from Sema (Sumi) tribe of remote Zunheboto district, Swu was actually an “inspiration”
for many Sema Nagas and others to join the Naga movement.
The suave Muivah belongs to Ukhrul district of Manipur – the main
hub Tangkhul Naga tribe in Manipur. Those in the know, therefore say, Isak's death that way could
make government's negotiations with NSCN(IM) much tougher while Mauivah,
according to intelligence sources, could find it difficult to carry
"tribesmen" from mainland Nagaland.
Other Naga factions have tried to often dismiss NSCN(IM) as a group of Tangkhuls only with support from Semas.
"The clamour call of greater Nagalim – the unification of
Naga contiguous areas - as cherished by Muivah in particular and NSCN(IM) in
general sense may loss its sheen unlike 1980s and 1990s when Isak and Muivah
ran the organisation with firm control over it," said a former Nagaland
minister unwilling to be named.
This will only herald testing time for Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and his team on Naga peace front comprising Ajit Doval (National
Security Adviser) and negotiator R N Ravi.
A cautious sense of optimism prevailed as
it is in Nagaland and Manipur after August 3, 2015 Framework agreement signed.
The people in general and rebel groups wanted to assess details of the pact over the fate of the
broad 'framework agreement' signed between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM
faction. With Swu gone, the burden to carry forward entire group and the talks
now fall on Muivah, who is also on the wrong side of 80.
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| Can Modi deliver peace? |
If things do not move in right direction and importantly carefully - things can go out of hand and there can be bloodshed again.
There is already "absence of clarity" on the salient features agreed upon by Government of India and the "most potent NSCN (IM) faction". While Nagaland government headed by T R Zeliang is largely on board on the peace process; political leaders and the people of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and perhaps even Myanmar, maintain a wary approach as Nagas inhabit all these states (and Myanmar), and the establishment of 'Greater Nagaland' or the unification of Naga contiguous areas has been the principal demand of the NSCN (IM) for many years. State governments in Manipur and Assam will find things tricky to handle.
Isak's death would only rekindle all the doubts about the very demand of greater Nagaland because Muivah will need "extensive support" from other tribesmen in Nagaland.
The Naga unification or Nagalim that the NSCN (IM) used to champion has been hanging fire. If it is there, Manipur - especially the valley areas could burn again. And if the demand of greater Nagalim has been dropped, why has it been dropped?
Muivah will have to face a terse question: What has the NSCN (IM) achieved? And importantly what has those Nagas achieved (in Nagaland) after so much bloodshed and sacrifices?
Isak Chishi would have softened the mood. Now his absence means there would be a big challenge for the Modi government as also T R Zeliang regime in Kohima.
Chief Minister Zeliang does understand the complexity of the challenges ahead. Thus he has tried to make a sensible statement by stating that Isak’s death came at a crucial
juncture when the Naga Political problem appeared to be on the verge of being
solved once and for all. This was certainly lamentable.
“But since the Almighty
has pre-determined period of time for all of us in this world, we have to be
content with the divine plans. However, to ensure the memory, life and
contributions of our legendary leader do not go in vain, we the living must
endeavour to fulfil the precious dream he could not witness when alive: Let all
sections of the Naga people come together, sink our differences and concertedly
work to bring about an early solution to the Naga problem,” Zelaing said.
Tears have not stopped shedding in Naga hills. It can hardly afford another round of bloodshed.
(ends)
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| Blogger during trip to North East |
Amen !
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