Ikato Chishi Swu Quits NSCN-IM, Joins Myanmar-Based Eastern Faction, Citing Leadership Failures

Dimapur, April 22:Ikato Chishi Swu, son of NSCN-IM co-founder Isak Chishi Swu, has announced his departure from the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), citing disillusionment with the current leadership and a lack of progress in resolving the decades-old Naga political issue.

In a statement issued on Friday, Swu declared his decision to join the group’s Myanmar-based eastern flank, led by rebel commanders Hs. Ramsan and Absalom Raman. Swu said he saw “no future and no solution to the Naga issue under the present leadership” of the NSCN-IM.

He accused the organization’s current leadership of straying from the original Naga cause and criticized the handling of peace talks since the 1997 ceasefire agreement with the Government of India. Swu claimed the government had deviated from the 2015 Framework Agreement after the death of his father and was now merely trying to “manage” the Naga issue rather than resolve it.

“The 28 years of ceasefire have only allowed the Indian government to corrupt NSCN-IM leaders,” Swu alleged. He further claimed that many leaders were now on the payroll of intelligence agencies, and high-ranking positions within the group could be bought for large sums of money.

Sources said Swu’s shift was influenced by long-standing tensions between NSCN-IM’s armed wing chief Anthony Shimray and other senior leaders. The Myanmar-based faction, operating independently from the NSCN-IM headquarters in Hebron, had previously attempted reconciliation, but those efforts failed.

A senior NSCN-IM leader, when asked about the development, said the group would refrain from making a statement against Swu. “We are trying to prevent the issue from escalating,” the leader stated. He also insisted that the eastern faction is not a splinter group but part of the broader NSCN movement. “Misunderstandings and prolonged communication gaps have pushed seniors like Ikato to make such a decision.”

Swu is reported to have taken 22 other members with him.

Meanwhile, Ikato’s mother, Eustar Swu, remains in Hebron and continues to serve in the collective leadership of NSCN-IM. “Mrs. Eustar is very much with us. She will be offering prayers during our Easter Sunday programme,” the leader confirmed.

The NSCN was originally formed in 1980 by Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah, and SS Khaplang in opposition to the 1975 Shillong Accord. It later split in 1988 into the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K due to internal disagreements. Khaplang passed away in 2017.