Thuingaleng Muivah
Thuingaleng Muivah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 March 1934 |
| Occupation | General Secretary of the NSCN(I-M) |
| Organization(s) | 1964–1980 NNC 1980–1988 undivided NSCN 1988–present NSCN(I-M) |
| Spouse | Pakahao Muivah |
| Parent(s) | Shangkathan Muivah, Luimala Muivah |
Thuingaleng Muivah (born 3 March 1934) is a Naga nationalist militant leader and General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M).[1]
Early career
He joined the Naga National Council (NNC), an armed group campaigning for secession of Nagaland from India.[2] He subsequently became the General Secretary of NNC. When a group of NNC leaders signed the Shillong Accord of 1975 with the Government of India, Muviah and some others denounced them as traitors.[3]
NNC to NSCN
In 1980, a faction led by Isak Chishi Swu, S. S. Khaplang and Muivah broke away from NNC to form the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN).[4] The NSCN was formed as a result of discontentment with the Shillong Accord, and continued secessionist activities abandoned by the NNC. The group later split into NSCN(I-M) led by Swu and Muivah, and NSCN (K) led by Khaplang due to major disagreements.
Peace talks
NSCN (I-M) under the leadership of Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India in August 1997 after decades of engaging in hostile fighting with Indian security forces. The major breakthrough of the peace talk happened on 3 August 2015[5] with the signing of a peace accord between Muivah-led NSCN(I-M) and the Narendra Modi-led Indian Government.[6]
In 2010, the Manipur state government barred Muivah from returning to his native Ukhrul District, which he had not visited since 1973, triggering large-scale deadly protests. He was finally allowed to return in 2025.[7]
Factional conflict and controversies
Following the split of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in 1988, relations between the NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) factions were marked by prolonged armed confrontation. The rivalry resulted in numerous inter-factional clashes, causing casualties among members of both organisations as well as civilians, and has been identified by scholars as a significant obstacle to the Naga peace process.[8][9]
As General Secretary of the NSCN (I-M), Muivah remained one of the organisation's principal political leaders during this period. The NSCN (I-M) has faced allegations from Indian investigative agencies regarding extortion through the collection of illegal "taxes" and other insurgency-related activities, leading to investigations by agencies including the Enforcement Directorate.[10]
The NSCN (I-M) has maintained that it represents the political aspirations of the Naga people and has consistently described its movement as one seeking Naga self-determination through a negotiated political settlement.[11]
Silence on Structural Constraints
Several analysts have noted that the areas claimed as part of Nagalim face significant economic and administrative challenges. The economies of Nagaland and Manipur remain heavily dependent on fiscal transfers from the Government of India. According to the PRS Legislative Research analysis of the 2026–27 state budgets, approximately 86% of Nagaland's revenue receipts and 88% of Manipur's revenue receipts are expected to come from central taxes and grants.[12][13]
Scholars have also identified the region's mountainous terrain, limited transport infrastructure, dispersed settlements and relatively low levels of industrialisation as constraints on economic development. These factors have been cited as challenges for attracting large-scale private investment and establishing independent fiscal and administrative institutions.[14][15]
Supporters of the proposal argue that greater political autonomy would enable Naga communities to exercise greater control over local resources and development priorities. Critics contend that the proposed territory's distribution across multiple Indian states and Myanmar would present significant administrative and economic challenges.[16]
References
- ↑ Horam, Chonmipem (12 August 2010). "Who is Thuingaleng Muivah?". Zeenews.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "A brief bio of Th. Muivah". Zee News. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ↑ A. S. Atai Shimray (1 January 2005). Let Freedom Ring?: Story of Naga Nationalism. Bibliophile South Asia. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-81-85002-61-3.
- ↑ Samaddar, Ranabir (28 May 2015). Government of Peace: Social Governance, Security and the Problematic of Peace. Ashgate Publishing Limited. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-4724-3493-7.
- ↑ "Peace Accord with India". New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ↑ "On Th Muivah". Zee News. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ↑ "A Naga rebel leader returns to his hometown in India's northeast after 5 decades, in photos". AP News. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ↑ Goswami, Namrata (2008). "Unravelling Insurgent Groups' Strategy: The Case of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim in India". Strategic Analysis. 32 (3): 413–438. doi:10.1080/09700160802063350.
- ↑ Sashinungla (2005). "Nagaland: Insurgency and Factional Intransigence". Faultlines. South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ "Illegal 'tax' collected, says ED charges NSCN(IM) treasurer". The Times of India. 20 December 2022.
- ↑ Goswami, Namrata (2007). "The Naga Narrative of Conflict: Envisioning a Resolution Roadmap". Strategic Analysis. 31 (2): 287–313. doi:10.1080/09700160701391241.
- ↑ "Nagaland Budget Analysis 2026-27". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ "Manipur Budget Analysis 2026-27". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ North East India Development Challenges in the Era of Globalisation. Routledge.
- ↑ Baruah, Sanjib (2005). Durable Disorder: Understanding the Politics of Northeast India. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Goswami, Namrata (2007). "The Naga Narrative of Conflict: Envisioning a Resolution Roadmap". Strategic Analysis.