NSCN on Myanmar mission

New Delhi, Sept. 24 : The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has despatched a senior leader to Myanmar to explore fallback options in case of failed negotiations, ahead of its talks with the Centre.

The outfit has said its leader is on a “special mission”.

What has surprised security agencies is that the NSCN leader is camping with the Meitei outfit, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) in Myanmar. For nearly a month, “colonel” S. Nganingkhui alias Akhui of the NSCN left his area in Manipur and is camping in Myanmar, sources told The Telegraph.

There are at least 30 cadres of the NSCN (I-M), along with members of KYKL.

Former interlocutor for the talks, Ajit Lal, said this was the first time in over a decade that such a development has been heard of. Government sources said the outfit might be exploring options in case the talks with the Centre do not work out.

The NSCN (I-M) is said to be apprehensive of the new government’s resolve for a “time-bound” programme.

The new interlocutor for the Naga Peace Process, R.N. Ravi, is known to be a result-oriented former intelligence officer. With a time-bound programme of the Narendra Modi government on the anvil and its resolve to crack down on extortion, the NSCN (I-M) is believed to be looking at a worst-case scenario despite remnants of hope of a final settlement. Nevertheless, Swu and Muivah are trying to catch up with the Prime Minister before he leaves for Washington this week.

Akhui and his men are understood to have camped at a place called Kattha near Hesin, north of Tamu in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division, where the Meitei group has a camp. Naga rebels and Meitei outfits are traditional adversaries as the former claims Naga hills in Manipur as part of Nagalim.

Over the years, the divisions among rebel groups has deepened and widened to result in divisions among the communities. However, senior leaders of KYKL have apparently been in good working relationship with the senior leadership of the Naga group.

Government sources analysed the situation to see if there was a split in the NSCN but the Naga outfit seemed robust in its co-ordination.

“Col Akhui is still part of the steering committee and is on a special mission,” said an NSCN (I-M) source.

Why he has gone has not been revealed but the NSCN leaders said they enjoy a good “working relationship” leaving the question open whether the cornered Naga outfit was looking for options parallel to the talks. But Akhui’s visit has caused unease not just in Delhi but also among other Meitei outfits.

The CorCom, which is an umbrella group of Meitei outfits that includes KYKL, is believed to be livid with the KYKL for helping the NSCN (I-M).

Other CorCom members like the UNLF are said to have ticked off the KYKL leadership about the development.

Although the CorCom has been in close contact with the NSCN (I-M)’s rival NSCN (Khaplang) in Myanmar, its relationship with Muivah has been bitter.

The NSCN (I-M)’s dream of a Nagalim or Greater Nagaland directly affects Manipur — if the Naga hill districts are removed, little of Manipur would be left.

For Muivah, old relations have come handy when the outfit fears a possible crisis.

Uncertainty over future of the negotiation continued after hopes of a settlement were crashed last year during the UPA’s tenure.

Former steel and petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey quit the job of interlocutor as he joined the BJP.

Later, former joint intelligence committee chairman Ajit Lal met the NSCN leaders a few times but amid the high-decibel election campaign since last year, no political decision-making was possible.

Ravi, the joint intelligence committee chairman, is now interlocutor and has invited the NSCN leaders for re-starting the stalled talks. He recently met members of the United Naga Council who called on Union home minister Rajnath Singh to expedite the peace talks.