KOHIMA, August 19: The general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) Dali Mungro, 55, and two other activists were gunned down by rival insurgents at Jotsoma, nearly 4 km from here last night. Sources said nearly 30 militants armed with sophisticated weapons surrounded the house where Mungro and his wife, Thokuli, were temporarily staying. They broke open the door, dragged out Mungro and killed him nearly 100 yards away from the house. Sources said the killers were suspected NSCN(Isak-Muivah) activists. An official spokesman of the NSCN(IM) said the outfit would clarify its position in a couple of days. The militants also raided the adjacent house and killed two of Mungro's men hiding there. One of them, Zhekhevi Sema, was the secretary of the outfit's Dimapur unit while the other, Zubenthung of Pangtong village, was a self-styled corporal. Sema was gunned down inside the house and Zubenthung was killed outside along with Mungro. The Khaplang faction leader's body was taken to his native village, Longkhum, in Mokokchung district after a brief funeral service in Kohima. Shops in the city remained closed following the killing. A pall of gloom descended over Jotsoma village and a large number of Congress leaders and NSCN(K) cadres gathered there to pay their homage. Mungro's wife Thokuli said the incident took place at around 9 pm. "The assailants ignored my husband's pleas to speak to me before his death,'' she said. When asked why Mungro did not have any armed bodyguards, she said, "We did not want to violate the unilateral ceasefire which prohibits carrying of arms in public. '' Mungro had come to the Angami village with his wife four days ago , Thokuli said. A senior NSCN(K) member admitted to an intelligence lapse on part of the outfit and hinted at the possibility of Mungro being betrayed by his own men. This is the first major incident of NSCN rivalry after the extension of the ceasefire on August 1. A high-level emergency meeting was held at the chief secretary's office in Kohima today to take stock of the situation. Police sources said security has been tightened to thwart retaliatory violence and massive combing operation was under way in the residential areas of the state capital. Mungro's killing has put a spanner in the efforts of the Naga Hoho, the apex tribal council, which was preparing modalities for the unification of all militant outfits in the state. The killing is likely to intensify the ongoing feud between the two NSCN factions-the Isak-Muivah and the Khaplang- and have a cascading effect on the peace process as the Centre was trying to bring the Khaplang faction to the negotiating table. The faction recently responded to the Centre's call for a peaceful settlement but laid down certain pre-conditions for talks. They demanded revocation of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, withdrawal of the "disturbed area'' status for Nagaland and wanted the Centre to declare the outfit as legal. The NSCN(K) had also responded positively to the Army's unilateral ceasefire offer. The killing will also compound the insurgency scene in neighbouring Manipur as most of the Naga inhabitants of the state are supporters of the Isak-Muivah faction. The NSCN(K) is active only in Chandel and Tamenglong districts, but the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur had recently teamed up with the Khaplang faction. (Bureau; The Telegraph; Calcutta; August 20, 1999)

KOHIMA, August 19: The general secretary of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) Dali Mungro, and two of his associates were killed by a suspected rival group here last night, according to the Kohima superintendent of police, I Tushiyae. About 30 persons surrounded the house in which Dali Mungro (55) and his wife were taking shelter, about eight km from the capital near the Science College at Jotsoma. After breaking the door open, Mungro, the second-in-command of the NSCN(K) and his wife were forcibly taken to an isolated place where he was shot dead, police sources said. However, his wife, Thokuli, was released unharmed. Family sources claimed that NSCN(Isak-Muivah) activists were behind the killing. Two other members of the Khaplang group, who had taken shelter in an adjacent house, were also killed. The incident took place at around 9 pm, according to Thokuli. Security measures in Nagaland has been tightened following the killing of Mungro. The body of the deceased general secretary has been handed over to his family members after post-mortem, Tushiyae said. The body will taken to his native village Longkhum in Mokokchung district later in the day. (Agencies; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 20, 1999)

NEW DELHI, August 20, 1999: The allies of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) have condemned outright the killing of its general secretary Dali Mungro. The Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) president, Ranjit Debbarma, offered its "deep sympathies" to the NSCN(K), the Naga people and the bereaved family of the leader. Debbarma, in a statement made available to this e-zine, said his organisation would remember the efforts of Mungro towards unity of all revolutionary organisations of the region. The "cowardly" assassination of Mungro is sure to lead the process into rough terrain, he said. The Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) expressed shock at the news of Mungro's assassination and expressed its profound sorrow at his untimely demise. The MPLF is the umbrella organisation of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). The MPLF described Mungro's death as a loss to the struggle for independence and freedom not only for the Naga people, but for the entire region as well. "He was a strong advocate of peace and unity among the revolutionary organisations of the region," the MPLF publicity-in-charge said in a statement. The MPLF said such senseless killings will not take the Naga struggle an inch further to their desired goal of freedom and independence. Stating that the act deserved "universal condemnation", the MPLF said, "It is up to the Naga people to judge whether the assassination has done anything good to their national cause and unity." The secretary-general of the RPF, Sanasam Gunen, in a separate statement said the RPF admired and remembered the efforts of Mungro in the national liberation movement of the region. Gunen said the killing was nothing but a symptom of cowardice and warned the people of the region to beware of the "enemy's" divide-and-rule policy. The UNLF alleged that the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) group had committed the crime at the behest of its "Indian masters" as Mungro was opposed to the ongoing peace talks the group was having with India. (Northeast Vigil; New Delhi; August 21, 1999)

CALCUTTA, August 20: The killing of the general secretary of the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Dali Mungro, yesterday is a major blow to both peace in the state and the moves for unity among different rebel groups. The stronger group -NSCN(Isak-Muivah)- has openly claimed responsibility for the killing of Mungro and two of his comrades at Jotsoma village, about 8 km from the capital town of Kohima, Today, an NSCN(IM) leader, however, said over the phone from Dimapur that "the order was to capture him (Mungro) alive but he was shot when he tried to escape." That the two groups were involved in a fight to the finish was evident after a recent spate of killings, particularly in the Tuensang district. This followed the NSCN(K)'s refusal to surrender to the IM faction by the deadline of July 15 which the latter had set for a "general amnesty." Sources in Dimapur and Kohima said the IM faction had taken advantage if the ceasefire with the Army to settle scores with the Khaplang faction. "Now, when the Khaplang group retaliates, the Army will have to intervene. But the Khaplang faction will say the Army is intervening only to save the other group," one of them argued. What looks certain in the aftermath of the killing is an inevitable spurt in fratricidal warfare in Nagaland. Besides factional identities, tribal sympathies would play a big role in these battles. Mungro's killing has angered large sections of the Ao community to which he belonged. The Nagaland government, led by chief minister SC Jamir, who too belongs to the Ao community, has strongly condemned the killing. The IM faction has always accused Jamir of aiding the Khaplang faction. The killings have also blown to bits hopes of unity among the factions. The Naga Hoho and Church leaders had pinned hopes on unity for a lasting solution to the decades-old problem of insurgency. But, during a three-day conclave at its "headquarters" at Niuland near Dimapur in June, the IM general secretary T. Muivah made it clear that he did not recognise the locus standi of the Khaplang faction for a dialogue with the government. Then came the IM offer of "general amnesty" which the other faction ignored. It was clear that the IM group would try to eliminate the other group and take over complete control of both the Naga insurgency and negotiations with the government. Over the past few weeks, the IM has struck at the Khaplang ranks to force the rival camp to give in. "It is highly probable," a police source said, "that some renegades in the Khaplang group helped the IM boys to surprise Mungro and his men." The Khaplang faction has not yet reacted publicly to the killings but it is likely to do so once the burials are over. (Ashis Chakrabarti; The Indian Express; New Delhi; August 21, 1999)

KOHIMA, August 20: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) today owned responsibility of killing its rival NSCN(K) general secretary Dali Mungro. Mungro was gunned down on Wednesday night at Jotsoma near here along with two of his security guards.(UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 21, 1999)

KOHIMA, August 17: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has vowed against signing any interim agreement with the Centre on the Naga issue, but will continue the ongoing peace talks for a final solution, its vice-president Khodao Yanthan has announced. "NSCN has made its stand on any interim agreement clear to the Centre. It will not agree to anything that betrays the aspirations of the Naga people," he told a public meeting at the organisation's headquarters near Dimapur on Saturday. Yanthan appreciated the statesmanship of Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and some of his predecessors but expressed dismay over the "bureaucratic approach" of the government to solve the problem. "Failing to understand the urges of the Naga people for honourable peace and failing to honour the commitment given by the Indian Prime ministers (four) to the NSCN collective leadership will only torpedo the peace process," said Yanthan, a close associate of Phizo. The NSCN leader did not attach much importance to the replacement of Swaraj Kaushal by K Padmnabhaiah as the chief mediator, but regretted that the decision had been taken without consulting his organisation. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 18, 1999)

KOHIMA, August 18: The apex tribal council, Naga Hoho, has resolved to boycott the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Nagaland, but this time it will not direct political parties and the electorate to do the same, leaving the matter to their "wisdom" The recent meeting of the Hoho here resolved not to participate in the polls, asserting that the solution to Naga political problem is its "priority", not the Lok Sabha elections. The Hoho along with other NGOs urged the political parties before the last general elections in the state to boycott the polls to "give peace a chance". Accordingly Opposition parties had responded to the call giving a cakewalk victory to the Congress. But the August 12 crucial meeting, attended by representatives of different tribal Hohos, decided to leave the matter to the wisdom of political parties to determine their future, Hoho sources said. The Naga Hoho Summit is a conglomeration of different Hohos (tribal councils) from Naga-inhabited areas. The Opposition political parties have on many occasions expressed their dismay over the activities of the Naga Hoho, alleging that the apex tribal council failed to implement its "words". While directing the political parties before the last general elections, the Hoho had announced that those who would participate in the polls against the "will of the Naga people" would be declared "anti-Nagas". But Opposition parties alleged that the Hoho had failed to implement its "slogan" and throwing the Opposition parties into a "humiliating position". Due to non-participation in the polls, the Nagaland Peoples' Council (NPC) lost its recognition with the Election Commission. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit and the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) too did not participate in the February 1998 elections in Nagaland. The Naga Hoho also expressed deep concern over the ongoing factional killings. "They should stop all such activities... It pains us," Naga Hoho president M Vero said. The Naga Hoho has already conveyed its dismay over the ongoing fratricidal animosity to National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) leadership and urged them to abjure the path of violence. Representatives from the Hoho attended the August 14 Independence Day celebration functions at the NSCN headquarters. Underground organisations in Nagaland have been observing their Independence Day on the eve of the Indian Independence Day since 1947. The then Naga National Council (NNC) under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo had declared independence on August 14, 1947. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 19, 1999)

SOMEWHERE IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH, August 16 His name is Chipo Menon. He is the military and political supervisor of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) for Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh. He holds the rank of 'Lt. Col' in the organisation and is considered a natural successor to Khaplang, who is reportedly suffering from prostrate cancer. "Chipo combines the shrewdness of his Malayalee father and the physical agility of his Wancho mother" remarked a military officer. What prompted him to drift towards NSCN (K) is not known. His father was an IAS officer, and so his childhood was not that of deprivation. It was probably the thought of adventure and romance that attracted him to the most dreaded and heavily armed insurgent outfit of the Northeast. As the military and political supervisor for Tirap and Changlang, he has succeeded in turning these two districts into safe entry and exit routes for Myanmar. His operations are supported by a self-styled Major, Shomchai Wangpa. The group has put the fear of death in the brave Nocte and Wancho tribes who, till three to four decades back, were known for head-hunting and had indeed unleashed a reign of terror in the neighbouring Assam district of Dibrugarh. It was the march of freedom and democracy in the country that persuaded the Wanchos and Noctes to shun head-hunting. Despite the Army-to-Army cooperation between India and Myanmar, it is extremely difficult for the latter to smash the underground camps because of difficult terrain and the lack of infrastructure. The NSCN(K) camps spread over the Kachin area have become the major training centres for the outlaws of the Northeast, next only to ISI. But unlike the latter, NSCN(K) charges a lot of money from the Northeast extremist groups for training and providing weapons. In recent years training has become one of the largest revenue spinner for the groups, next only to the extortion racket that it runs from Changlang to Mon to Dimapur. (MK Shukla, The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 17, 1999)