DIMAPUR: A Nagaland political movement, whose campaign against the scourge of corruption has turned into a mass movement, warned of a civil war if the Centre arbitrarily resolved the protracted Naga political problem without taking into confidence all Naga insurgent groups and the Naga civil societies.
“We demand an inclusive solution. The Centre must involve all insurgent groups in the process before coming out with any solution. The Manipur Nagas are negotiating over a problem of ours. How can we accept it?” asked KK Sema, an advisor to the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), at a public rally against graft held in the commercial hub of Dimapur on Friday.
He was referring to the Isak-Muivah faction of a major Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM). Most of its leaders are Nagas from Manipur and they call the shots in the outfit.
For the past 20 years, the outfit has been engaged in peace negotiations with the Centre to find a solution for the problem. However, no such process has been initiated with six other rebel groups of the state, including the outlawed NSCN (Khaplang) or NSCN-K.
“If the Centre comes out with any solution without us being heard, let it be known that there will be a civil war in Nagaland,” said Sema, who is a retired IAS officer.
One of the most contentious demands raised by the NSCN-IM is the creation of Nagalim – a unified Naga homeland – by slicing off the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur besides Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The three neighbouring states are opposed to the design. The Nagas have a sizeable population, particularly in Manipur.