National Socialist Council of Nagaland
FounderIsak Chishi Swu
S. S. Khaplang
Thuingaleng Muivah
LeaderThuingaleng Muivah
Dates of operation31 January 1980 (1980-01-31) – present
AllegianceUnited National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia
Group(s)NSCN-IM
NSCN-K
NSCN-KK
NSCN-U
NSCN-R
HeadquartersCamp Hebron, Peren District, Nagaland
Active regions
IdeologyNaga nationalism
Christian nationalism[1][2]
Maoism
Separatism
Political positionFar-left
SloganNagaland for Christ
Size~15,000 total[3] (<1,500 in Myanmar)[4]
Allies
Opponents
Battles and wars
Designated as a terrorist group by India

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is a Naga militant and separatist group operating mainly in northeastern part of India, with minor activities in northwest Myanmar (Burma).[2][7] The main aim of the organisation is allegedly to establish a sovereign Naga state, "Nagalim",[8] which would consist of all the areas inhabited by Naga tribes in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar.[3] India claims that China and Pakistan provide financial support and weaponry to the NSCN. Drug trafficking and extortion are believed to be other major sources of income for the NSCN.

There are two major factions of the NSCN, NSCN-K, which was led by S. S. Khaplang, and NSCN-IM, which was led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.[9] Smaller factions comprise the rest of the NSCN. In 2015, in response to an attack on an army convoy in Manipur, India designated the NSCN-K as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.[10] India's Ministry of Home Affairs labels NSCN a major insurgent group.[11]

History

The word "Naga" is used as a collective term for several ethnic tribes living on the Himalayan Range in Northeast India, which were brought under the control of British India during the 19th century. After India's independence, several Naga leaders tried to secede from India. In 1975, the separatist Naga National Council (NNC) renounced violence and signed the Shillong Accord with the Government of India. Some of the NNC leaders disapproved of this peace treaty: these leaders included Isak Chishi Swu of the Sumi (Sema) tribe, Thuingaleng Muivah of the Tangkhul tribe, and S. S. Khaplang. These leaders broke off from the NNC and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) as a new separatist organisation.[12] NSCN formed an underground Naga Federal Government having both civil and military wings. Later, a disagreement surfaced within the group's leaders over the issue of commencing dialogue with the Indian government. On 30 April 1988, the NSCN split into two factions; the NSCN-K led by Khaplang, and the NSCN-IM, led by Chishi Swu and Muivah. The split was accompanied by a spate of violence and clashes between the factions. In 1997, ceasefire agreements were made between the factions of the NSCN and India.[13] Later, NSCN-K abrogated the ceasefire agreement.

On 6 April 2015, a new faction of the NSCN was formed. Y. Wangtin Konyak and P. Tikhak officially announced the formation of a new Naga political group going by the name "National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Reformation)" or NSCN-R. The decision came after Konyak, a senior minister, or Kilonser, of the NSCN-K and a personal secretary to founder Khaplang was expelled from the group after disagreements over its ceasefire agreement. The NSCN-R, wanted to continue with the ceasefire maintaining that "violence has never served a good purpose and the Naga political problem can only be resolved through peace and negotiation" while Khaplang had it abrogated because the "14 years of ceasefire between NSCN-K and India has become a mockery and futile exercise." Opposed to militant activities, the primary agenda of the NSCN-R would be to "develop a sense of brotherhood among the Naga family and to rebuild the trust and faith among the Naga society."

On 3 August 2015, NSCN-IM leaders Isak Swu and T. Muivah signed a peace framework agreement with the Government of India in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.[14] Also in 2015, NSCN-K became affiliated with a militia organization named the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW), a united front of Northeast Indian militant groups,[15][16] and shortly after broke off peace talks with the Indian government. The UNLFW carried out the 2015 Manipur ambush, in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed and 15 were wounded.[17]

Objectives and aims

The founding objective of the NSCN was to establish a separate Naga State(Nagalim) by unifying all the Naga-inhabited areas in the North East of India and Northern Burma. Although, the Nagas are divided into various ethnic groups whose numbers and populations are unclear. They each speak distinct languages often unintelligible to the others. Unification of all Naga tribes under one administration and the secession of Naga populated areas from India through militant means was listed as one of the main objectives of the organisation. In the organisation's manifesto it stated that it "stands for socialism." On political institution, it believes in "the dictatorship of the people through the National Socialist Council and the practice of democracy within the organisation".[18]

The NSCN has been widely described as both a Maoist and Christian group. Journalist Bertil Lintner has described NSCN's ideology as "a mixture of evangelical Christianity and revolutionary socialism".[19] According to the NSCN manifesto, their slogan is "Nagaland for Christ".[1] However, in an interview with BBC, a British public broadcaster, in 2005, when asked about the slogan "Nagaland for Christ" and if the Naga State will be a theocratic state, group leader Thuingaleng Muviah clarified that there had been a misunderstanding and that the slogan was not a law but rather was an aspiration of the group as more than 95% of Naga people are converted Christians. Muviah stated, "[the] Naga State has to be secular, if it is not secular then we would be betraying ourselves."[20]

NSCN-IM, though it has signed a peace agreement with the Government of India, claims to uphold the founding objectives of the NSCM, with the integration of all the contiguous Naga areas under one administration being its prime goal.[21] NSCN-K continues to engage in militant insurgency with its goal being the separation of Naga populated areas from the Indian Union.[17]

Area of operation

The NSCN is active in northeastern part of India, with the group having its strongest influence and presence in the state of Nagaland and the hill districts of Manipur. It additionally maintains presences in Nagaland's neighbouring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.[22] Outside of India, the NSCN has operated in the Naga-inhabited regions of northern Myanmar.

Leadership and structure

Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, the founders of NSCN-IM, served as the inaugural Chairman and General Secretary of the group, respectively, and S. S. Khaplang served the Chairman of NSCN-K. In February 2019, Qhehezu Tuccu was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the NSCN-IM.[23] The post had been vacant since the death of Chishi Swu. At the same meeting, Tongmeth Wangnao was elected as the vice-chairman of the NSCN-IM.[24]

Politically, the NSCN has divided its area of influence into 11 administrative regions based on sub-tribe considerations and administrative convenience. In many areas, it runs a parallel government in opposition to the recognized Indian government. There are four major NSCN Ministries – Defence, Home, Finance, and Foreign Affairs. Moreover, there are five other minor Ministries including Education, Information and Publicity, Forests and Minerals, Law and Justice, and Religious Affairs. The most prominent among the group's nine Ministries is its "Home Ministry", which it considers to be "a replacement of the Indian state machinery". The heads of 11 administrative regions report to the head of this Home Ministry, referred to by the group as the "Kilo Kilonser". The devolution of the administrative arms of the organisation goes down to the town and village levels.

The group has also established a government-in-exile called the Government of the People's Republic of Nagaland (GPRN), which interacts with formal and non-formal world bodies and media. The GPRN has sent emissaries abroad, mainly to countries that have unfriendly relations with India, to garner support and raise funds for their cause.

Linkages

Over the years, the NSCN has developed extensive linkages both within and outside India.

The NSCN has patronised smaller militant groups in Northeast India, training the groups in warfare and intelligence methods and providing them with logistics for waging war against India. The group has connections to India's Naxalite–Maoist militant groups[6] and is a member of the UNLFW militant group united front.[16]

The group has opened up contacts with international organizations like the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. It is additionally a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.

It is alleged by the Indian government that China and Pakistan provide financial support and weaponry to the NSCN.[3][5] Knowledge of China's role in the Naga insurgency was expanded after the 2019 arrest of NSCN-IM leader Anthony Shimray. After his arrest, Shimray alleged that he was tasked by Chinese intelligence agencies to gather intelligence on Indian troop deployments in northeastern India. On 7 July 2019, the Indian Army busted an NSCN spy camp in Kekru Naga village. An additional four camps were targeted by Indian security forces.[25][26]

Sources of funding

Drug trafficking and extortion are believed to be major sources of income for the NSCN. The group retains 70% of the income it generates while the remaining 30% is distributed to smaller ethnic insurgent groups operating in NSCN areas.[27]

The NSCN takes a 12% extortion from the government employees living in NSCN areas and collects a fixed house tax from local population. For shops and commercial establishments operating in NSCN areas, the extortion rate starts at a minimum of 5%.[28]

Activities

On 4 June 2015, NSCN-K and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup ambushed an Indian Army convoy, killing 18 soldiers.[29] On 10 June, India claimed that, in response to the ambush, it had conducted strikes against NSCN-K camps inside Myanmar, and inflicted significant casualties.[30] Indian media reported that around 38 militants belonging to NSCN-K were killed in the strikes.[31] The Myanmar government, however, rejected Indian government claims. According to Myanmar government officials, the operation against NSCN insurgents took place entirely on the Indian side of the border and Indian troops did not cross into Myanmar.[32][33] NSCN-K also rejected India's claims. According to NSCN-K, Indian troops did not attack any camp belonging to NSCN-K and the group did not suffer any losses. NSCN-K also challenged the Indian Army to display the dead bodies of those killed during the operation.[34]

In February and June 2019, the Indian Army and the Myanmar's Tatmadaw carried out joint operations Sunrise and Sunrise II, cooperating to target several militant groups along the Indo-Burma border including the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, the United Liberation Front of Assam (I), the National Democratic Front of Boroland, and NSCN-K.[35] In February, Burmese troops stormed the NSCN-K headquarters in Taga. The Indian Army reciprocated by starting a major operation against the Arakan Army in south Mizoram.[36]

On 21 May 2019, 11 people including the National People's Party member of the Legislative Assembly Tirong Aboh and his son, were killed in an ambush by militants on Khonsa-Deomali road in Tirap District.[37][38][39] In response to the ambush, the Indian Army launched various operations against the NSCN, which resulted in the confiscation of NSCN weapons and the detention of five suspected members of the group.[40][41][42]

In mid-July 2019, NSCN-IM militants opposed the implementation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN); the group alleges that the push to implement the RIIN is "contradictory" to the inherent rights of the Naga people.[43]

Controversies

In 2015, The Economist, a British newspaper, claimed that the NSCN-K had previously been backed by India's intelligence agencies to divide other Naga separatist groups and weaken the Naga insurgency.[44]

NSCN-IM has been accused of killing innocent people, including Nagas, who speak against their aims or ideology. In September 2021, Athuan Abonmai, a Zeliangrong man from Grace Colony, was kidnapped and killed by NSCN-IM members.[45]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Nagaland for Christ". The Morung Express. 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 Dholabhai, Nishit (18 February 2011). "NSCN wants swift solution". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lyle Morris (22 March 2011). "Is China Backing Indian Insurgents?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  4. ↑ O2 (6 June 2013). "NSCN-K". Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 "National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM)". South Asia Intelligence Review. Retrieved 27 February 2023. Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) now provides a large component of finance, arms and logistic support to the NSCN-IM.
  6. 1 2 "Pakistan and the Naxalite Movement in India". Stratfor. 18 November 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Police, NSCN militants exchange fire". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 July 2004. Archived from the original on 20 August 2004.
  8. ↑ "National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak-Muivah". Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  9. ↑ Jangkholam Haokip (14 August 2014). Can God Save My Village?: A Theological Study of Identity among the Tribal People of North-East India with a Special Reference to the Kukis of Manipur. Langham Monographs. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1-78368-981-1. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Government declares NSCN (K) as terrorist organization under UAPA". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Chapter 2, Annual Report 2016 -17 (2017). Internal Security (PDF). New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Degenhardt, Henry W.; Day, Alan John (1983), Political dissent: an international guide to dissident, extra-parliamentary, guerrilla, and illegal political movements, Gale Research Company, ISBN 978-0-582-90255-8, archived from the original on 23 August 2019, retrieved 28 September 2018
  13. ↑ Waterman, Alex (16 September 2020). "Ceasefires and State Order-Making in Naga Northeast India". International Peacekeeping. 28 (3): 496–525. doi:10.1080/13533312.2020.1821365. ISSN 1353-3312. S2CID 224876474. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via White Rose Research Online.
  14. ↑ "Government signs landmark Nagaland peace treaty with NSCN(I-M) in presence of PM Narendra Modi". The Economic Times. India. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "UNLFW: The new name for terror in NE – Times of India". The Times of India. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018. Bhattacharya told TOI, "We are taking UNLFW very seriously since it has brought several militant outfits under one umbrella."
  16. 1 2 "Nine miltant [sic] groups of NE form united front with Chinese blessings". 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018. Nine militant groups of the northeast, including the NSCN-Khaplang and the ULFA faction led by Paresh Baruah, have come together to form a new unified front during a meeting held recently in Myanmar, security sources said.
  17. 1 2 "Myanmar operation: 70 commandos finish task in 40 minutes". The Hindu. 10 June 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Manifesto of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland". South Asia Intelligence Review. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  19. ↑ A. S. Atai Shimray (2005). Let Freedom Ring?: Story of Naga Nationalism. Bibliophile South Asia. p. 175. ISBN 978-81-85002-61-3.
  20. ↑ "Hardtalk India T Muiva 29.4.2005.MPG – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  21. ↑ Singh, Bikash (1 July 2018). "Integration of all the contiguous Naga areas is the legitimate right of the Naga people: NSCN-IM". Economic Times. India. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "6 Naga insurgents killed in 'gunfight' with Indian military". 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Scroll Staff (12 February 2019). "Nagaland: Rebel group NSCN(IM) elects new chairperson, deputy for six years". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  24. ↑ "Tuccu elected NSCN (I-M) chairman, Tongmeth as VC". Nagaland Post. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  25. ↑ Abhishek Bhalla (7 July 2019). "Undesignated hideouts of NSCN busted in Manipur; arms, ammunition recovered". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  26. ↑ "Army Dismantles Hidden Camp Of Insurgent Group NSCN(IM) In Manipur". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Insergents [sic] Group National Socialist Council of Nagaland". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  28. ↑ "No extortion, only legitimate taxes levied: NSCN (IM)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  29. ↑ "NSCN (K) camps busted along Indo-Myanmar border". 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  30. ↑ "Myanmar operation: 70 commandos finish task in 40 minutes". thehindu.com. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "70 commandos involved in Myanmar operation". 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  32. ↑ "Government denies India operation took place inside Myanmar". Myanmar Times. 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  33. ↑ "Myanmar denies Indian Army raid inside its territory". 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015.
  34. ↑ Singh, Bikash (11 June 2015). "NSCN(K) challenges Indian Army to display bodies of those killed in attack". Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "Armies of India, Myanmar target NE militants in coordinated operation". India Times. 16 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  36. ↑ "Myanmar's army is increasingly turning to India for training and weapons". Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "Terrorism Update Details – 11-persons-including-npp-mla-killed-in-ambush-in-arunachal-pradesh". www.satp.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  38. ↑ "Politician, family members among 11 killed in India ambush". Reuters. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  39. ↑ Indrajit Kundu (21 May 2019). "Arunachal Pradesh: NPP MLA Tirong Aboh, son among 11 shot dead by unknown assailants". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  40. ↑ "Army seizes huge cache of arms,ammunition of NSCN(IM) in Manipur". Hindustan Times. 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  41. ↑ "NSCN-IM Operative, Four Others Nabbed by Assam Police with 15 Lakh Cash". News18. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  42. ↑ "NSCN (IM) 'major' arrested in Tirap massacre case". The Arunachal Times. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  43. ↑ "NSCN-IM opposes Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland". Indian Express. 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  44. ↑ "India's north-east: The spoils of peace". The Economist. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "Former ZB president Athuan Abonmai found shot dead". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
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