HAD he not become the leader of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), he would probably have been serving in a mission. The last time that negotiations were held between the Indian government and the Naga guerrillas in the late Sixties, playing a key role was a suave young man in his mid-30s. Thirty summers later, the same man was set to play a bigger role in the current negotiations. But the soft-spoken NSCN chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, has not had much to speak about -- real talks are yet to get under way. Not certainly with his long-time comrade-in-arms Thuingaleng Muivah, the NSCN general secretary, cooling his heels in a Thai prison and undergoing trial there. For the first time since Muivah's arrest, Swu speaks to Northeast Vigil editor, Subir Ghosh, on the issue.
Excerpts:
Northeast Vigil: What is the status of Mr Muivah's arrest now?
Isak Chishi Swu: Mr T Muivah has been sentenced for one year for entering Thailand with fake travelling documents.
Northeast Vigil: When will he be released?
Isak Chishi Swu: We do not know. Muivah's release entirely depends on the decision of the judges involved.
Northeast Vigil: What are you doing for his release? Who are the people helping you with his release?
Isak Chishi Swu: We are requesting the Thai government to release him soon. Many international organisations, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, have requested the Thai Prime Minister, Chief Justice and the Foreign Minister for his early release. A copy of an appeal letter made by our friends recently has already been sent to you.
Northeast Vigil: Have Indian leaders been helping you about his release?
Isak Chishi Swu: Prominent Indian leaders, including three former Indian prime ministers and intellectuals like Mr Rajinder Sachar (former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court), Mr Surendra Mohan (former MP), Swami Agnivesh (Bonded Labour Liberation Front), and Mrs Nandita Haksar, are fully supporting us. So far, however, no Indian government officials have helped us.
Northeast Vigil: A number of Indian intellectuals had issued a statement asking the Indian government to intervene so that the talks do not get jeopardised. Have these intellectuals contacted you?
Isak Chishi Swu: Yes, they contacted me.
Northeast Vigil: There was a report some days back saying that some NSCN activists were planning ti hijack an Indian Airlines plane to secure Mr Muivah's release. Is it true?
Isak Chishi Swu: The allegation was absolutely fantastic, inasmuch as such idea was not even in our dreams. This baseless allegation was engineered through the Custom officers by the anti-national elements like SC Jamir to blackmail the NSCN and disturb the ongoing peace process.
Northeast Vigil: It is said that Mr Muivah was arrested on basis of a tip-off. Do you know who tipped of Thai police? Was it RAW? Was it SC Jamir? Was it ISI?
Isak Chishi Swu: It was learnt from a reliable source that the Indian intelligence agents tipped-off the Thai immigration officers.
Northeast Vigil: Why did Mr Muivah try to jump bail after being arrested once?
Isak Chishi Swu: He tried to jump bail in order to attend a meeting in Europe with the representatives of the Indian government. And, for your kind information, Mr Muivah did not jump bail after being arrested once: he was arrested on 19 January and released on bail on 26, and rearrested on 30 January.
Northeast Vigil: Is it not strange that Mr Muivah should be arrested in a country where he had been living for so many years?
Isak Chishi Swu: He was not living in Thailand. He used to visit the kingdom as a tourist from time to time.
Northeast Vigil: Mr Muivah was arrested after he landed from Karachi. Is NSCN still maintaining links with the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan?
Isak Chishi Swu: The NSCN has no link with the ISI. In fact, we do not have any contact with it.
Northeast Vigil: It is said the NSCN has more faith in Pakistan than Bangladesh. Is it true?
Isak Chishi Swu: The NSCN has faith in all the neighbouring countries and there is no particular country with which we have a special relationship.
Northeast Vigil: When I met Mr Muivah last year in Nuiland, he had told me that you still have some links left with China. Are you getting in touch with China?
Isak Chishi Swu: We maintain friendly attitude towards all our neighbouring countries, including China.
Northeast Vigil: The talks with India have come to a pass and Mr Muivah had been one of the key negotiators. Do you think it was a ploy to have him removed from the talks so that Indians do not have to negotiate with a formidable enemy?
Isak Chishi Swu: We are interested in the peace process and we do not take the Indian government as an enemy. We do not know if, as some persons presume, they are making a ploy to remove Mr Muivah from the ongoing political negotiations.
Northeast Vigil: Do you think Mr Muivah has been made to be arrested to that Indians are able to divide the NSCN rank and file?
Isak Chishi Swu: I do not think the Indian government will be so childish to play such games in the course of the peace process.
Northeast Vigil: Are you keeping in touch with Mr Muivah?
Isak Chishi Swu: Yes, I am in touch with him regularly.
Indian govt hasn't helped in Muivah case: Swu
