Cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a new Naga outfit, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) were involved in an exchange of fire for almost two hours at Thanagong village in the Tamenglong District of Manipur on November 10, 2011. Though both groups separately claimed to have killed one rival cadre, the Manipur Police failed to ascertain whether there were any casualties on either side.
On November 14, ZUF claimed that the clashes erupted when its cadres went in to protect the helpless Thanagong villagers, who were allegedly "tortured mercilessly" by NSCN-IM cadres on November 9, 2011. ZUF also alleged that villagers, including children, were taken hostage by the NSCN-IM and tortured at Soubunglong (Leishok) village in the Nungba Sub-division on November 8. A press release issued by the outfit's 'joint secretary', Aihong Remroi Inpui, accused the NSCN-IM of betraying their own people and inciting bloodshed among the Nagas, contrary to their claim of being 'freedom fighters'.
Meanwhile, on November 11, 2011, the NSCN-IM claimed that ZUF was formed to "challenge the (Naga) nation". The NSCN-IM declared, "It is the duty of the Naga Army to check anti-national elements caused by the ZUF in which certain section of the people, particularly Suobunglong villagers have been cooperating and feeding the ZUF. Therefore, the Army Cadres of the NSCN who were on duty had taught them (villagers) a lesson not to continue their support to the ZUF." Further, the NSCN-IM rejected the ZUF allegations against them as 'totally unfounded'.
Earlier, on October 18, 2011, an almost four hours encounter took place between NSCN-IM and ZUF cadres in a forest at Guiteng Chingkao village under Khoupum Police Station in Tamenglong district of Manipur. The incident happened when some ZUF cadres intruded into Guiteng village, which was already occupied by the NSCN-IM. The firing reportedly began due to 'miscommunication' between the cadres on the spot. However, on October 19, the ZUF alleged that around 50 cadres of NSCN-IM attacked a ZUF hideout, which led to the encounter. ZUF warned NSCN-IM, declaring that the group would be responsible for any 'unfortunate incident' that occurred in future in the 'Zeliangrong region' (the Zeliangrong Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland). The ZUF is against NSCN-IM operations in the area, which it claims as its own.
The October 18 incident occurred just a few days after six cadres of the NSCN-IM were killed and five injured during an ambush by ZUF cadres on October 7 at Leishok village in the Nungba Sub-division of the same district. About 60 NSCN-IM cadres were travelling to the village in two trucks, when they came under attack.
Referring to the October 7 shootout, the ZUF stated, on October 13, that it was a 'sad incident' caused by an intrusion by 'outsiders' (NSCN-IM), which had disturbed the peaceful atmosphere: "It is natural for us to protect our land and we are doing it with our own volition." ZUF has argued that NSCN-IM only imposes its 'military rule' in the Zeliangrong region, while there are many Naga areas that are untouched by the latter outfit.
ZUF was created on February 25, 2011, when around 10 NSCN-IM cadres, who deserted the group along with arms and ammunition, joined up with some National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) cadres. The outfit also has an armed wing, the Zeliangrong Tiger Force (ZTF). Jenchui Kamei is the 'commander-in-chief' of ZUF; Aihong Remroi Inpui, its 'joint secretary' (or 'secretary in-charge'); Hensin Kamson, its 'finance secretary'; and Nickson Thoitak, its 'deputy commander-in-chief'.
ZUF claims that its primary objective is to protect the interests of the Zeliangrong tribe, with the slogan "Zeliangrong Ringtelo" - 'Long live the Zeliangrong people'. The 'chairman' of the outfit, Kamson thus pledged, "We will defend the land and resources of the Zeliangrong people, our culture, our historical values, traditional and customary habitats of the Zeliangrong community." He stated, further, that ZUF would strive to protect the interests of other minority groups and tribes in the region. Claiming that ZUF's jurisdiction falls over the 'Zeliangrong Naga' inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, he declared, "ZUF shall strive to maintain good relations with other revolutionary movements in the north eastern states."
Furious with the formation of the ZUF, a joint meeting of NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and the Naga National Council (NNC) was reportedly held on February 26, 2011, at the Atinga village in Khoupum valley in the Tamenglong district. Later, NSCN-IM served notice on the ZUF to surrender to the former by March 10, 2011, or face 'strong resistance'. However, NSCN-IM chose to ignore its own March 10 surrender deadline and began 'operations' against ZUF on March 5, 2011. Poule Nkoume, a cadre of the outfit's armed wing, ZTF, was killed in a clash with NSCN-IM cadres near Khoupum Khunou village in Tamenglong District on that day.
In June 2011, ZUF shot at and injured an NSCN-IM cadre, Poushindai Gonmei, as a 'last warning' for his 'crime'. On June 9, ZUF claimed responsibility for the act, arguing that Gonmei was involved in the March 5 shootout in which Nkoume was killed.
The formation of the ZUF and its subsequent clashes with NSCN-IM have been opposed by various Naga civil groups. On October 11, dismayed by the October 7 ambush on NSCN-IM militants by ZUF, United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in Manipur, appealed to different Naga militant groups to refrain from fratricidal acts. Further, lamenting the March 5 factional clash between the ZUF and NSCN-IM, the Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB), the apex organization of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland issued an appeal for peace, non-violence and restraint 'from all concerned', on March 6. ZB president Raitu Chawang underlined the need to work unitedly and in a selfless manner to strengthen the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process and Naga reconciliation under the aegis of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). He said that ZB would not encourage the formation of any new outfit/ organization/ faction at this critical juncture of the Naga peace process, in the larger interests of the 'Naga nation'; adding further that ZB and the Zeliangrong people would render service to bridge the gap among various factions of Naga underground outfits.
Nevertheless, on March 9, ZUF harshly condemned the NSCN-IM, declaring that the former's revolutionary spirit could not be dampened by simply trying to overpower the outfit. "There has not been any fresh bloodbath amongst the Nagas for a long time. ZUF has since [March 5] been confined in their camp at Sinai. But the NSCN-IM has disturbed the peace by attacking and ambushing our camp."
A further division took place in the NSCN-K on June 7, when a group of top leaders led by Khole Konyak formed a new group by expelling Khaplang. In a war of words, the NSCN-K on September 2, said Khole and Kitovi Zhimomi (leaders of the new faction after the NSCN-K split) had become 'prisoners of the NSCN-IM'. Earlier on July 10, the Khole Konyak and Kitovi Zhimomi faction of NSCN had described S.S. Khaplang as a Burmese national and asked him not to interfere in Naga affairs.
Though, leaders of three Naga factions— Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah of NSCN-IM; 'General' Khole Konyak and N. Kitovi Zhimomi of the newly formed NSCN-Khole-Kitovi; and 'Brigadier' S. Singnya and Zhopra Vero of NNC— have resolved "in principle" to work towards the formation of one "Naga National government" in order to better solve Naga political issues, the proliferation of new Naga groups and their escalating rivalry complicates the peace process.
At a time when the union government has asked Naga rebel leaders to formulate a "higher working system" and commit to unite in order to reach an agreement for a permanent solution, the clashes between the newly formed ZUF and NSCN-IM, the developing rivalry between the NSCN-K and its breakaway NSCN-Khole-Kitovi, the age-old rivalry between the NSCN-K and NSCN-IM [since April 30, 1988], undermines the entire peace process and marginalizes the FNR, which is spearheading the reconciliation process among Naga factions. Evidently, the Naga peace talks, which began in 1997, are running into rough weather again, and peace, conspicuously, remains a distant dream.
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Veronica Khangchian is Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management. Courtesy: South Asia Intelligence Review of the South Asia Terrorism Portal
