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Nagaland : Quit Myanmar signal to Khaplang

	April 24, 2006

Identifying the Khaplang group of the NSCN as one of the unwanted elements in their territory, a Myanmarese military delegation on April 20 told Indian army officials that they had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to militant activity.



The neighbouring country’s statement may have warmed the cockles of the Indian security establishment’s heart, but Army officials who attended the meeting at the 3 Corps headquarters at Rangapahar, near Dimapur, maintained a “neutral stance” on the issue.



Even this statement was enough to trigger an outburst from the Khaplang group, which accused the Army of being hand-in-glove with the Myanmar junta. “How can they say that ? The Myanmar army is actually attacking us with help from Indian security forces,” senior NSCN (K) functionary Kughalu Mulatonu said.



NSCN (K) chief S.S. Khaplang is a Hemi Naga and operates from Myanmar.



In February, the NSCN (K) claimed to have killed 10 Myanmarese soldiers at a village called Chumsa. It lost two of its own men in the battle.



A senior Army official confirmed that the discussions centred on Myanmar’s problems with the Khaplang group and insurgency in Nagaland, Manipur and parts of Mizoram where the Brus and Chins operate.



“It is true that there have been attacks by the Myanmar army on camps of the Khaplang group and it is also true that Myanmar has been observing the peace process in Nagaland. All these were discussed,” he said.



With both the NSCN factions in ceasefire with Delhi, Myanmar is interested in developments in Nagaland and the neighbouring states as its own western region has Naga tribes, which the rebel factions claim to be part of a “greater” Naga homeland.





Clash spoils unity bid



A bloody clash between the two NSCN factions on the eve of Easter marred the festive atmosphere and dealt a blow to another initiative by the Naga Hoho to unite warring tribal groups of Nagaland.



Three militants were killed in the clash between the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions at Hongphoi village, 12 km from Mon town. The NSCN (I-M) lost two members and the NSCN (K) one of its activists. Four more militants and a civilian were injured.



In another development, the Zeliangrong Students’ Union in Kohima blamed two NSCN (I-M) activists for the attack on one of its members, identified as Suiding Hinglak, in Kohima last week.

Clashes between the two NSCN factions have been reported from various parts of the state in recent months. The Chakesang Mothers’ Association (CMA) recently protested against factional clashes in Phek district.





Status quo on Indo-Bangla border



Status quo will be maintained in areas of adverse possession along the India-Bangladesh border for fencing work, a senior BSF official said in Shillong on April 20.



“There are 12 areas along the India-Bangladesh border where a total of 551.8 acres of Bangladesh land is under the adverse possession of India. On the other hand, there are six areas where 226.8 acres of land belonging to India is under the adverse possession of Bangladesh,” said M.N. Sajjan, the BSF additional DIG in charge of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.



He said it was the BSF’s responsibility to protect cultivators during the day by providing adequate patrolling along the zero line and to ensure that no crop was harvested or destroyed by Bangladeshis at night. “The border population need not fear loss of their land as the BSF will be on constant vigil along the zero line,” he said.