"NSCN (IM) intact", says Th Muivah

GUWAHATI, Apr 19
NSCN-IM leader Thuinga-leng Muivah today presided over a high level meeting of his group at his residence in Dimapur, and has sought to send out a clear message that the group is united and is intact despite the exit of Ikato Swu from the group’s head-quarters in Camp Hebron.
The meeting was attended by six top NSCN (IM) leaders that included VS Atem, Anthony Simray, RH Raising and Tongmeth Wangmao.
The meeting, according to sources, also discussed whether or not to hold a joint council or general body meeting to discuss several important issues including Ikato’s departure to Myanmar.
NSCN (IM) watchers said that Ikato himself had raised the issue of certain differences within the organization during the Barapani meet in 2023.
It is however, not known whether the collective leadership of the NSCN (IM) had taken note of what Ikato was supposed to have said or whether they tried to address the concerns.
Sources added that some of the leaders are in favour of changes in the civil and army setup within the NSCN (IM).
However, this could not be independently confirmed.
There are intense speculations over Ikato’s departure for Myanmar about a week ago, along with around 25 of his associates that included his immediate family.
The situation is fluid because Ikato Swu, son of one of the NSCN (IM)’s founders, Isak Chishi Swu, has leveled serious allegations against the group’s leadership and said that he has lost faith in them.
Ikato said there is rampant corruption within the NSCN (IM) and went to the extent of saying that positions within the outfit can be obtained in exchange for money.
Ikato Swu also accused the Government of India of demoralizing and corrupting the NSCN(IM) members during the 28 years of ceasefire.
In view of this biggest jolt that the NSCN (IM) has received since the NSCN split in 1988, it is left to be seen whether the NSCN-IM top brass holds a general body meeting to discuss all aspects of the issue and set the speculations at rest. North East Live