Ikato Chishi Swu, Son of Naga Revolutionary Leader Late Isak Chishi Swu, Joins Forces with Ramsan and Absalom Group

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Beloved Countrymen,

I am the son of a revolutionary who sacrificed everything for the cause of Nagalim for Christ and the Naga nation. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) was founded under the leadership of my father, (Late) Isak Chishi Swu, along with Th. Muivah and (Late) S.S. Khaplang on 31st January 1980, after the signing of the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975. Under their leadership, the national movement was revived and carried forward until the split took place in 1988 within the NSCN through the instigation of Indian intelligence agencies. This led to the formation of a faction led by the Late S.S. Khaplang.

However, the movement still continued under the leadership of my father, Late Isak Chishi Swu, and uncle Th. Muivah. The duo were able to take the Naga issue to the international forum when NSCN became a member of the UNPO on 23rd January 1993. Further, on 25th July 1997, Mr. I.K. Gujral, the then Prime Minister of India, declared a ceasefire between the Government of India (GoI) and NSCN in the Indian Parliament. On the other hand, Isak Chishi Swu, the Chairman of NSCN, declared the same from Amsterdam, Netherlands, effective from 1st August 1997 for a period of three months. The two sides decided to hold political negotiations under these bilaterally agreed guiding principles:

i) The political talks would be unconditional;
ii) The talks would be held at the highest level (Prime Minister’s level);
iii) The talks would be conducted in third, neutral countries.

Accordingly, political talks were held in neutral countries in Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. On 11th July 2002, the Indian government, in a joint communiqué issued from Amsterdam, officially recognised the uniqueness of Naga history and the situation of the Nagas. The two leaders were invited as state guests to India, and they visited India and met all the top leadership at that time. Thereafter, the negotiation continued in India after the chief negotiator and Ato Kilonser Th. Muivah was deported to India after he was released from Bangkok jail, as he was imprisoned for possessing fake travel documents.

In 2011, my father, Late Isak Chishi Swu, was asked to come to India by uncle Th. Muivah, saying that the final inking of the protracted Indo-Naga political issue would be done that year and his signature would be required for the final settlement. In good faith, my father submitted his old passport to the Indian embassy in Thailand, took an Indian passport, and came back to India. The final inking of the issue did not happen that year, and the issue was dragged on and on by GoI, citing various reasons known to them. Even then, somehow the negotiation continued, and finally, when my father was on his sickbed, on 3rd August 2015, the Framework Agreement was signed between NSCN and GoI. No doubt, if this agreement was implemented in letter and spirit, it would have been a win-win solution for both the Nagas and the Indians.

However, after the passing away of my father, Late Isak Chishi Swu, the GoI started backtracking on the Framework Agreement and began misinterpreting it by removing and deleting some words that were written in the agreement. R.N. Ravi was appointed as Governor of Nagaland state, and political talks were brought down to the Governor level from the Prime Ministerial level. He started sabotaging the Framework Agreement and threatened the Nagas to accept a solution under the Indian Constitution, setting 31st October 2019 as the deadline. After witnessing the double-standard nature of R.N. Ravi, NSCN demanded his removal as interlocutor, and he was replaced by A.K. Mishra, who is not even an interlocutor but just a GoI representative. This has further brought the political talks to the 1B level. GoI is in no mood to solve the issue; they simply want to manage it and maintain the status quo.

Meanwhile, during the 28 years of ceasefire with NSCN, the GoI, through their intelligence agencies, began demoralizing and corrupting the NSCN members. Many of them, including some top leaders, fell into the lure of these agencies and are now trapped. They have started compromising the national interest for their own selfish gain. Many are on the payroll of these agencies; some of them have become approvers of GoI and are working hand in glove with the government. The enemy has successfully infiltrated the NSCN set-up. National security is compromised. Leaders are forced to function according to the whims of their paymasters; many are in no position to even rescue themselves. They are directed to bring all the true revolutionary patriots into their fold through different ways and means, and those who do not give in to their offers and lures are suspended and even terminated from the organisation.

Some of the leaders are involved in alcohol syndicates in nexus with top political leaders of the Nagaland state government and are enjoying huge amounts of money every month. They have deployed Naga army personnel to ensure that only adulterated alcohol distributed by the so-called syndicate is sold. Some are involved in all kinds of black business in connivance with the enemy forces. Many leaders are building their own business empires, buying properties everywhere in metropolitan cities of India and even abroad. They have built palatial buildings with all the luxury and comfort one can imagine and want to maintain the status quo and enjoy all the facilities and niceties that GoI is providing in the name of political talk and ceasefire.

There is no justice in the government system. Portfolios and assignments can be bought if you offer a huge amount of money to certain leaders. The list goes on and on; I cannot cover everything in one write-up. As an insider and as a son of the founder, I have tried to address these issues both individually and collectively. Many have expressed their concern but are afraid to address it because whoever addresses these issues is sidelined and victimised. The virus of corruption has infected all the organs of the NSCN/GPRN government because of the mismanagement and corruption of the top leadership. All the values and principles that my father stood for till his last breath have been jeopardised and compromised. After witnessing all these states of affairs, I see no future and no solution to the Naga issue under the present leadership.

In order to save the nation and the organisation my father built with his blood, sweat, and tears, and to finish the unfinished task my father, Late Isak Chishi Swu, left behind, I, along with some of my like-minded comrades, have decided to join hands with Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Hs. Ramsan, VC, and Lt. Gen. Absalom Raman, MM, MC, who are true nationalists and still standing tall and firm for the cause of the Naga nation. They are the remnants that God has preserved to save the nation.

Finally, on 3rd July 2023, during the peace talk at Barapani, Shillong, I was asked by Mr. A.K. Mishra to speak my mind. I told him that I am a second-generation revolutionary, and all the leaders present here today are my father’s contemporaries. So, when these leaders are coming close to you, it would be good if you could resolve the issue at the earliest.

I also mentioned that I am a son of the revolution, and my whole life has been affected by it. There are thousands of youths like me whose lives and futures have been shaped by this struggle. Therefore, if you do not solve the issue promptly, I will raise a new force, devise new strategies, and continue the fight until our goal is achieved.

Today, I am compelled to do the same because of the hypocrisy and insincerity of the GoI. Therefore, I call upon all right-thinking Nagas, especially the youth and younger generation, to join us in continuing the fight. Together, we will save our history, our future, and our nation.

God bless the Naga Nation.
KUKNALIM!
Ikato Chishi Swu