In a letter dated July 10, Lieut. Gen (Retd.) HS Ramsan, VC, Steering Committee, Executive Member, NSCN-IM, wrote that Indian security forces are providing the necessary resources and support to capture Homalin and Khamti. These locations hold crucial strategic importance for the Nagas.
“Once these locations are captured, it would only be a matter of days to capture our base here in eastern Nagalim,” said Ramsan, which according to him would signify the success of the Government of India (GoI) in disintegrating the Naga movement.
The letter urged the Nagas to recognize that Indian security forces are exploiting the ongoing conflict in Myanmar by waging a proxy war against the Nagas, using the Kuki National Army (KNA-B) and other ethnic armed groups in Myanmar under the guise of pro-democracy forces.
“My beloved Naga brethren, at this grievous and crucial juncture in Eastern Nagalim (present-day Myanmar), I am sending out my utmost appeal for prayer and unity,” Ramsan added. He further explained that due to the dire circumstances, it had become essential for them to defend their land.
Raman also highlighted the militarization of the Indo-Myanmar border, especially in the southern Ukhrul District, where Indian armed forces are covertly aiding Kuki militants to directly confront Naga forces. He noted that with the help of Indian security forces, the KNA-B and other groups have captured strategic locations such as Myo Thit, Tanan, Aungzia, and Tonghi Junction near Dilong village.
“With looming dangers such as this, and the rapid advancement of our adversaries, we were forced to start our retaliation against our adversaries by the month of May 2024 in Angko Ching Range (present Myanmar),” said Ramsan.
Ramsan further narrated how on June 15, 2024, at Angko Ching Range, Captain RS Winson made the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding their land.
“By the grace of God, on June 17, 2024, we were able to push through our enemy’s line and recapture our hold at Tonghi and Aungzia Junction near Dilong village in Angko Ching Range (present-day Myanmar),” Ramsan stated.
However, Ramsan highlighted that youths in the areas captured by the Kuki National Army (KNA-B) and its colluding ethnic armed groups are forcibly recruited into their force to wage war against the Naga army.
“Even with such coercions and perils at hand, the Naga Army at the Eastern Nagalim considers it an honor to defend our land and our dear cause. We continue to be fully committed to defend our land to the last,” added Ramsan.
‘GoI offered me amount worth crores and asked to form another faction’: Lieut Gen Retd HS Ramsan
Lieut Gen Retd HS Ramsan after asserting that Indian security forces are exploiting the ongoing conflict in Myanmar by waging a proxy war against the Nagas in Eastern Nagalim, he accused the GoI of a desperate attempt to wipe out the Naga Political Movement.
“It is now imperious that I expose in pen and paper the tactics played by the Gol to sabotage our Naga Political Movement,” he said.
According to Ramsan, the GoI in its final thrust to settle the Indo – Naga political issue within the Constitution and Union of India, made him an offer to the amount of Rs 100 crores (and negotiable for more) in the month of May 2022, along with an assurance that all cases against him and the Deputy Longvibu of Naga Army would be dismissed if they returned home.
The deadline for the offer was set till December of 2022, he said, adding, “later in September 2023, when I was under termination from the national service, through their discreet messenger, I was asked again to form another faction with an assurance that all required funds would be provided for, and assured a negotiated settlement for the Nagas in Manipur with some sort of autonomy or 6th Schedule within the Union of India.”
“This offer came with a message that should we refuse it, we would be faced with difficult times with no safe place for us anywhere. Let us not forget that before the signing of the infamous Shillong Accord (1975), the Gol used different methods of pressure on the Nagas to submit to their whims,” he continued.
Ramsan said it is the same policy of the Gol that is revolving today, “yet again”.
“I would not be an exception to such financial offers from the Indian security apparatus; many of our National Workers might have received similar offers from our adversary. We refused to exchange our rights for money, and refused to bow down to their whims. We stood firm to our principle for the cause of the Nagas,” he said.
‘We do not have any issue with the KNA–B and other ethnic armed groups’
Ramsan viewed that having failed in their ploy to derail the Naga Political Movement, the Gol is now working hand-in-glove with KNA-B and its colluding ethnic armed groups to annihilate their base in Eastern Nagalim to move forward with their selfish agenda in India.
“I, therefore, humbly and fervently urge our Nagas Brethren, presently in India and across, to be aware of the danger posed by this action of our adversaries,” he said.
He further clarified that they do not have any issue with the KNA-B, and the other ethnic armed groups of Myanmar, nor are they against them.
“However, Nagas will not tolerate, and will fight to the last to any armed groups that are colluding with our adversary to strangle our Political Movement and pose a threat to our very existence as a nation,” he added.
‘Indian security apparatus exploiting Meitei-Kuki clash to crush Naga Political Movement’
Ramsan cautioned that the “heinous” attempt of the Indian security apparatus to crush the Naga Political Movement is manifested in the present Meitei-Kuki clash.
“Every Naga must come together to reason as to what the Gol have promised the warring groups, i.e., the Kukis and Biren led government of Manipur, why their interests are aligned to destroy us and further disintegrate us? One must never forget the thousands of lives martyred for our cause, the endless suffering faced by our people over many decades of our National Movement; surely, God will pronounce the right judgment one day that He finds fit,” he said.
“Beloved Nagas, the God given rights of the Nagas will be sustained and can never be put to shame. So, let us hold true to the promise of God. We appeal to all the Nagas in general, and the National Workers and the youths in particular to support and rise up in unison, and march forward to face the irrefutable challenges posed by our adversaries”.