Guwahati: In what has been seen as a major setback to the ongoing peace-process in Nagaland, Mr Ikato Chishi Swu, the son of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (IM)’s late founding leader Isak Chishi Swu, has announced that he is joining dissident NSCN (IM) leaders Lt Gen (retired) Hs Ramsan and Lt Gen Absalom Raman across the border in Myanmar.
SWU accused the incumbent NSCN-IM of losing its NAGA cause in a arduous statement and expressed disappointment at the way the peace talks were handled since the NSCN-IM and the Indian government signed their first ceasefire agreement in 1997.
Mr SWU said the government began to look back from the 2015 framework agreement after his father’s death, and did not want to solve the problem, but just wanted to “manage and keep the status quo”. Importantly, the late founder leader of NSCN (IM) played a role in signing the 2015 framework agreement.
He claimed that the government successfully undermined NSCN-IM leaders in the 28 years of the ceasefire. He said the trapped leaders had begun to compromise on the “national interests” of Naga, many of whom were paid by intelligence agencies. Mr. SWU also claimed that positions within the NSCN-IM hierarchy can be purchased by paying a large amount of money.
However, security sources said that he was not holding significant position in the NSCN (IM) hierarchy, Mr Ikato Swu joining Mr Ramsan, the vice-chairman and an executive member of the NSCN (IM)’s steering committee, and Mr Raman, the Deputy Longvibu (Deputy Commander) of the Naga Army could opposely impact the NSCN (IM)’s credibility among the Nagas from Nagaland as the Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) Th Muivah is Tangkhul Naga from Manipur. Most of Tangkhuls’ leadership is also dominated by Tangkhuls. Isak Chisi Swu from Nagaland and Ikato, attendance after his death, gave NSCN (IM) the image of a joint Naga leader in Manipur and Nagaland.
Sources in Nagaland believe that if Mr Swu came up with Mr Ramsan and Mr Raman to propose a new NSCN (IM) faction, it could weaken Mr Muivah’s position and further mock the already-fighted Naga Peace Deal.
The NSCN (IM) Senior NSCN (IM) leader said the NSCN Senior Leader (IM) leader consulted in the hierarchy and archives, but the outfit would not make any statements to Mr. SWU. “But we are trying to stop the problem from being blown up,” the leader said.
Mr. SWU also spoke about a meeting with former Intelligence Agency additional director AK Mishra on July 3, 2023.
“I… mentioned that I was the son of the revolution and my whole life was affected by it. There are thousands of young people who have shaped their lives and their future because of this struggle. So if you don’t solve this problem quickly, I will propose new forces, develop new strategies, and continue our battle until our goals achieve their goals,” said Mr. SWU.
