NSCN (IM) ‘forgives’ dead NSCN (K) Chairman SS Khaplang

Two warring factions of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland decided to bury the hatchet for the time being following the death of SS Khaplang on Friday.

NSCN was formed in 1980 by late Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and Khaplang. The organisation was formed to oppose the Shillong Accord signed by the then Naga National Council (NNC) with the Government of India.

Later, a disagreement surfaced within the outfit leaders over the issue of commencing dialogue with the Indian Government. In 1988, the NSCN split into two factions; the NSCN-K led by Khaplang, and the NSCN-IM, led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. The split was accompanied by a spate of violence and clashes between the factions with Khaplang even leading an unsuccessful bid on Muivah’s life.

Khaplang died following a cardiac arrest at Takka in Myanmar last night. “It is tragic that an important Naga leader like Khaplang expired considering the fact that the protracted Naga political problem is on the verge of being resolved and the need for all different Naga political groups to come together to air our views and aspirations to the Government of India in one voice is absolutely imperative,” Nagaland CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu said.

But following …read more