UPA stoking the Nagaland fire allowing Muivah roam freely

SILCHAR : Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of NSCN, who was home bound at his native village of Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur from Hebron camp near Dimapur, after 47 years, could not make it due to violent protests and demonstrations staged by the activists of the United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO). Both these powerful Manipuri organisations have been campaigning against the visit of Muivah for his insistence on greater Nagaland to include Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The ‘home-coming’ of the Naga leader as these organisations felt would lend credence to the NSCN (IM)’s claim over the territory of Manipur. Since the ceasefire agreement between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) on August 1, 1997, there have been series of talks at home and abroad to find solution to the more than six decade old Indo-Naga imbroglio, the last one having been held in New Delhi. The solution still remains elusive due mainly to the most contentious issues of integration of all Naga areas and sovereignty.

The news of Muivah setting out for Manipur created ripples and evoked deepest anger and resentment among the Manipuris and his return home despite chopper mode of transport consented to by the Union Home Ministry had to be cancelled and his visit postponed in view of the highly volatile situation. UCM president Yumnamcha Dilip Kumar warned if Muivah came there will be an upheaval greater in intensity than the one witnessed in 2001 after the Centre agreed to extend ceasefire beyond Nagaland.

Muivah could understand his dilemma when the Kukis also joined the tirade against his visit. The apex body Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) accused Muivah of creating enmity between the tribals living in the neighbourhood since time immemorial. It blamed the rebel leader for killing hundreds of Kukis, destroying their villages and rendering around one lakh Kukis homeless in their own home land. KIM at the same time questioned the ongoing talks between the Centre and NSCN (IM).