Khaplang death may lead to NE peace talks

The death of NSCN-K chief SS Khaplang may pave the way for peace talks with the hardline Naga rebel group, bringing about a change in the insurgency theatre in the Northeast.

Seventy-seven-year-old Khaplang, who also led the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW), a conglomerate of several insurgent groups, was instrumental in the recent step-up in attacks against security forces, besides running an arms racket.

He was opposed to a peace dialogue with the Centre.

While opinion is divided on how the insurgency situation will evolve in the Northeast, Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said a peace dialogue with NSCN-K is possible if the organisation gives up violence and secessionist activity.

“Khaplang was the main person who was supporting and facilitating insurgency in NE and had clout. He was a Myanmarese citizen and hence there was a problem. His death will definitely have impact in the region,” he said.

Rijiju said the Union government will rehabilitate all Indian citizens in the Naga group if they abjure violence.

Rijiju, however, said he cannot talk about Myanmarese citizens, who are part of the NSCN-K.

Khaplang was a Hemi Naga from Myanmar.

Executive director of the Guwahati-based Centre for Development and Peace Studies, Wasbir Hussain, said Khaplang was the most important player in the insurgency theatre in NE and he abrogated peace talks with the Centre two years ago. “His death raises questions whether his successors are more belligerent than him,” he said.

Hussain said the Nagaland government had some time ago claimed that it was in touch with Khaplang to bring him back to the peace process and the rebel leader had apparently agreed to it provided the talks centered around “substantive” issues.

I’ve been thinking of the slow but sure death of the sharing economy in urban India, at a time when we need it the most.

Slicing up a watermelon in the kitchen, I want to give away one half, but it’s awkward to call a neighbour and ask if one can send over half a watermelon, because I can only finish half before the giant fruit goes bad.

So instead, I don’t buy a large size fruit even though it is usually sweeter.

But I do know, that if I need to buy my own mini-idli steamer which I use only a few times a month, instead of borrowing it, then we are all doing something wrong.

We are burying the sharing economy.