(EKHON EXCLUSIVE)
EKHON | June 25, 2025: In an exclusive interview with EKHON, Lieutenant General (Retd) HS Ramsan (known popularly as Awo Hanshi) shared his candid perspective on why they remain resolute despite challenges at the Eastern Flank and outlined his vision for the Naga movement’s future.
EKHON: Whether a New Faction is Formed?
HS RAMSAN: If our issue/problem with Hebron is to form another faction, it could have been done long ago. But that’s never the objective of “Eastern Flank”. Prior to my termination, I was first suspended, my sanction was scrapped and later terminated. Nonetheless, we were persistent to not get trapped in the Machiavellian design of our enemies (Indian govt.), but committed to unite in our shared historical struggles, and aspiration for Naga’s Political Justice, a principle that has been the foundation of our movement.
And perhaps today, the Indian govt. is (probably) rethinking its approach in the wake of our strategic mission beyond India’s illegitimate border. It is our primary objective that the Indian government hold political talks with respect and sincerity. Ever since the Naga’s resolute stand on separate Flag and Constitution, the Indian government has been on the radar of bribing our leaders right from top GPRN leadership to civil body leaders to our politicians, to enfeeble the Nagas. Our mission is to reimagine the long-standing Naga’s national struggles for a dignified future.
EKHON: Reasons for Strengthening the Eastern Flank.
HS RAMSAN: Amidst GoI’s delay tactics on Indo-Naga Political Talks, our leaders are increasingly becoming subservient to India’s deceitful policies. In this interregnum period, we must strengthen our strategic base here in Eastern Nagalim to bolster our position. Our position in the larger changing political landscape is at a very critical juncture. So, therefore, if the govt. of India is not willing to negotiate on what the Nagas have stood and sacrificed for generations, we must also take strategic moves beyond mere political talks. I strongly felt that, without an ambitious and tactical move outside the sphere of India’s influence and its security tightening in our homeland, our movement is likely to be suffocated by itself. Avakharar Th Muivah, who’s the beacon of our revolutionary zeal, although resolutely stood for a separate flag and constitution, his health is not in a position to ‘go jungle’ (revolutionary) again. Our commitment is that we can’t let our movement decline with the deterioration of Avakharar’s health, but we must re-imagine and reinvent Avakharar’s political vision for the younger generations to take it forward (if the circumstances compel us to do so).
EKHON: Is the Mission of Eastern Flank an Undeclared Wish of Ato Kilonser Th. Muivah?
HS RAMSAN: The objective of Eastern Flank is very much in spirit with Avakharar’s (Th. Muivah) political vision and national sermons through which my own political principle and sense of patriotism for Nagas was shaped and molded. The reason I dare to stand firm despite adversaries is because of this shared principle.
By God’s unfailing Grace, his political vision was historically inked on the 3rd of August 2015 – the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement. Today, the agreed Indo-Naga Political Framework has been altered and appropriated by the government of India to reduce the legitimacy of the agreement within the framework of the Indian constitution. Our objective stands firm on the ground that, if the government of India is insincere about what we have bilaterally signed, Nagas must take a resolute call and do what we are supposed to do in accordance with our national principles. Had Avakharar’s health been physically and mentally fit, he would have done what we’re doing today.
EKHON: How Confident are you towards Hebron for Reunification?
HS RAMSAN: To my conscience, if we are to genuinely reconcile, it could have been done smoothly since long time back, but that is not the case in our efforts so far. I’ve told this to our Peace Committee members who had come to meet me. The efforts made in our peace and reconciliation process were (most of the time) internally hijacked by the pre-conditioning policy of our enemies (Indian Govt.) by instrumentalising some of our own leaders and cornering me as a prime target. Such schematic maneuverings need to be put to scrutiny by our Naga civil bodies, conscience keepers, media houses, etc., to make way for genuine reconciliation and unity to take place amongst us.
EKHON: Current Re-conciliatory process from Hebron.
HS RAMSAN: There was a concerted effort in the past from both sides, but for a while, Hebron has stopped responding – kept on hold.
EKHON: What is the ultimate Goal/Objective of Eastern Flank?
HS RAMSAN: It is our inherent birthright to have our Freedom, and the final Naga political solution has to be inked (preferably for all) based on the ‘Indo-Naga Framework Agreement’. If the Naga Political solution is not realised through the framework agreement signed between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India in 2015, our movement must be carried on until our aspiration for self-determination is achieved. This is our ultimate goal/objective.
EKHON: Relationship with the Burmese govt./Army.
HS RAMSAN: As per our Late President Isak Chishi Swu’s “Declaration of Unilateral Ceasefire” on May 3, 1993, we’ve consistently pursued for peaceful political solutions. We believe that dialogue, rather than military confrontation, is the path forward. And through our sincere efforts and God’s grace, the political landscape in Myanmar has evolved favorably, bringing relative peace in the region.
EKHON: How would you like to Re-invent the Naga Political Movement?
HS RAMSAN: The key to reinventing Naga movement is to revisit back to the roots – “Nagalim for Christ”. As pledged in the Holy Bible, whosoever has faith in Jesus Christ the Redeemer and follows His commandments, they shall not be forsaken. Avakharar Th. Muivah always reminds us that our struggle isn’t with India, but rather our spiritual standing with Jesus Christ, our Saviour. His message clarified the path to life and the consequences for our nation, and to seek unity under God’s will. This clarity will dispel any uncertainty about the direction and outcome of our movement, providing a clear path forward.
Over the years, our leaders and followers, including myself, who had served the Naga nation for 51 years, have gone astray many times from God’s will/commandment. We need to rebuild our relationship and re-commit our struggles to Christ as the sole source of our strength. The lifespan of the Naga’s political journey, its success and failure, must be measured by living the will/commandment of our Lord.
In the heart of the matter, we need to re-imagine the crippling effects of our dependency to Indian government. Naga’s self-sufficiency is the key to re-envisioning our long-term path to Freedom. We must realise how blessed we are, with an abundance of land, water, forest, resources, etc. We are agriculturalists by tradition, our culture revolves around our land and our agricultural practices, but most Nagas seem to have lost touch with who we are (our roots) in search of something foreign. Our objectives must recentre and streamline our focus on the importance of our self-sufficiency – the importance of land–based culture, agriculture, economy, livelihood, etc.
We need more young, educated and patriotic Nagas to join and lead the movement. Unless the young Nagas take up the ownership, reignite the collective spirit and spearhead the movement, we might barely witness change in the way we approach our political future, and our aspiration for a separate flag and constitution could only become a distant dream. Our stand today is for the young people, and with the young people. Our political movement in the 21stcentury must encourage/include fresh political ideologues, policy makers, scientists, tech-savvy youngsters, economists, engineers, etc., to reimagine Naga’s political future that is relevant to our times.
EKHON: On Eastern Flank.
HS RAMSAN: Before the ultimatum was served to me, I first questioned the secret/subtle access of the Indian intelligentsia in the working of our Naga national organisation in Hebron. Out of sheer concern for our Naga national security, I internally requested our Yaruiwo (Chairman) to open two command divisions, i.e. Western Flank (Hebron, India) and the Eastern Flank (Myanmar-based) under Longvibu’s command. We already knew, Hebron is already in a potentially vulnerable position by measures of its geo-political location and the increasing access of Indian IBs in the organisational workings of our government. I shared these critical concerns with our leaders and colleagues.
Eventually, on September 3, 2019, Yaruiwo introduced the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the Naga Army, establishing the Eastern Flank, Western Flank, and GHQ Hebron. The Western Flank and GHQ fell under the Longvibu’s jurisdiction, while the Eastern Flank was overseen by the Deputy Longvibu in consultation with the Longvibu. However, just a month later, on October 3, 2019, this SoP was superseded by a new order from Yaruiwo.
To my reading, such an abrupt overturn of strategic Naga security policy indicates a compromised state of affairs by any measure of Naga national objectives and geopolitical policies. What concerns me is the time and circumstances under which such a crucial decision was made. It all happened during the ultimatum period served by the GoI, stating that no more talks for a separate flag and constitution would be held for Nagalim, with the deadline on 31stOctober 2019. We immediately felt it as a prompt effect of the political pressure from our adversary.
The crux of the problem is that, instead of taking up the necessary steps to counter the ultimatum served by the GoI that blatantly disregards our core national principles (i.e separate flag and constitution), and diplomatically strengthening our strategic position, we remained subservient to the whims and fancies of the GoI. Subsequently, the routinized Peace talks were resumed despite the ultimatum set by the GoI that no talks would be held for a separate flag and constitution for Nagalim. Such reductive treatment of our national principle within the diplomatic confines of the GoI is the core problem/issues between us and those in Hebron.
Recently, our General Secretary/Ato Kilonser and the Chief Political Negotiator, Th. Muivah, in a statement on the 7thNovember, 2024, has declared the core Naga National Principle, i.e., separate flag and constitution, as NON-NEGOTIABLE. We have to pursue our course of action and remain united under the political testament made by our supremo Th. Muivah. Therefore, the main purpose of the Eastern Flank is to safeguard our Naga national principle and strengthen our position and to avoid another political misadventure through our base here in Sagaing, Myanmar.
Meanwhile, if we are to take a concrete step to advance our political struggle, we also need to craft our policies for diplomatic involvement from other nations, but as of now, we are lacking in our international policy relations. We are in a state of neither hot nor cold, neither standing nor sitting. We are in uncertain times. But we are here standing on the conviction of the ‘Framework Agreement’ and the promise of a solution thereafter. And with the hope that the time will come when we get timely help.
EKHON: Eastern Flank’s stand on Meitei and Kuki?
HS RAMSAN: If Meitei continues to stand (only) within the political limits of “Manipur territorial integrity”, Nagas might never come into terms with Meiteis. If only when Meiteis realise their historical and political rights beyond the given Manipur state, there are possibilities for Nagas and Meiteis to collaborate against our common enemies. To Kukis, as long as their idea of Zalengam or Kuki Homeland is asserted within the domain of Naga ancestral land, we are never going to be at peace with them. Our mission is not to compromise an inch of our land and territory. But as long as Kukis recognise their landowners and identify themselves within the fold of the Naga tribes, we have no problems with them. They must respect our historical and political rights and give their utmost cooperation and co-exist in unity and love. Ultimately, we want all the communities to coexist in harmony, fostering mutual respect and understanding among one another.
EKHON: Impact of Ikato Chisi Swu’s joining in Eastern Flank?
HS RAMSAN: The current imbroglio or tension about the Eastern flank and Hebron entails a larger Naga political concern. For the last few years, I’ve been reaching out to my fellow Nagas, especially young people, including Ikato, for internal dialogue and deliberation. So that our disagreements are resolved and we take a concrete roadmap for the Naga political future within and beyond borders. Such imagination and strategies are extremely essential today in the current changing political landscape to advance our position in the region (Southeast Asia). My call is to let the young Nagas stand up and pave the ways for them to take ownership of the movement. Ikato’s courageous move has opened up new possibilities, paving the way for a major political breakthrough. I believe his fervent decision to continue his father’s (Isaac Swu) legacy will inspire many young Nagas.
As Ikato publicly lamented that, Nagas are losing the ground, and our means and hopes for Freedom are being systematically compromised/hijacked under the current leadership of Hebron speaks volumes of our crippling state of affairs. I believe this was the conviction that led him and several of his loyalists and other young Naga patriots to join the ranks of the Eastern Flank. And I hope many more will join in re-imagining and re-constructing the Naga movement to the greater heights – that is relevant to our times and future.
EKHON: Your views on scrapping of FMR – ongoing border fence?
HS RAMSAN: The ongoing border fencing at any cost is unacceptable for the Nagas. We do not recognise India’s border as legitimate. How can the GoI fence our homeland, cage us, and separate us from our kin without even consulting us? let alone consent. It is a systematic project to erase the identity of the Naga people and our political movement. Such an act is obnoxious for the Nagas as it is intended and disrespectful to the highest level to the ongoing Indo-Naga Peace talks. Such dishonesty on the part of the GoI has to be taken seriously and should be acted upon accordingly by our national Government, civil organisations and every Naga people.
EKHON: How do you sustain operations without collecting taxes from citizens?
HS RAMSAN: Without any source, we rely heavily on the kindness and support of our well-wishers who believe in our national cause, and their generosity enables us to sustain our efforts.
Truly, we can’t sustain our movement without the sources of revenue. To safeguard our freedom, we might be constrained to collect taxes, and such a time may come in the future if the movement remains unresolved. For now, our utmost priority is on the reconciliation for unity amongst the Naga national groups, particularly between the Eastern Flank and the Western Flank.
EKHON: Can you recount your personal experiences within the movement?
HS RAMSAN: I joined the NSCN-IM in 1974 and was soon assigned to the China mission, a challenging and unprecedented endeavor in Naga political history. Our perilous journey, which began on August 13, 1974, involved traversing dense jungles, evading manhunts, and surviving harsh conditions. For months, we went without proper food or shelter, with one particularly grueling stretch where we survived on water alone for 42 days. The harsh climate and lack of basic necessities took a toll on us, with many losing their lives along the way due to illness, accidents, or enemy encounters.
Sleeping under wet blankets, we’d wake up frozen, longing for the warmth of childhood nights by the fire. The journey was brutal, claiming many lives. Some succumbed to illness, others fled, were swept away by rivers, captured, or shot by enemies. I faced life-and-death situations, witnessing comrades fall beside me, some shot, others swept away by rivers while we held hands crossing.
Despite facing such hardships, untold fears and uncertainties, I’ve experienced divine protection and deliverance. Despite extreme challenges, I’ve felt God’s unwavering presence, guiding and preserving me. This realization has given me the conviction that surrendering to Him is key to overcoming adversity. I’m humbled to be used for a higher purpose, beyond my understanding. My life is a testament to His miracles, and I’m grateful for His faithfulness.
EKHON: What are your most notable achievements?
HS RAMSAN:
- In 1988, I escaped from Kohima jail on Easter Sunday amidst the Khaplang crisis. After meeting with Naga elders, including then Region Chairman Rh Raising, I proposed occupying Dimapur due to its strategic location and significant Naga population from different tribes. My suggestion was accepted, and I was appointed Commander of the Thunder Operation, which successfully occupied Dimapur. Notably, Avakharar Th. Muivah was also received and stayed in Dimapur during this time. The meeting place was then called Jordan Camp, and it is in this camp that a consensus was formed among Nagas towards the Naga movement under the leadership of Th Muivah and the Chairman Isak Chisi Swu.
- My transfers to Chandel in 1992 coincided with the Kuki conflict, and it was during this time that Nagas in Manipur united under the NSCN (IM) at large. Shortly, I was transferred to Zunheboto, where we successfully pushed Khaplang’s forces back till Tuensang. An army general’s acknowledgement that the issue required political talks paved the way for ceasefire negotiations, and military solution was ruled out.
- Later, being labelled a wanted person by SC Jamir prompted me to propose expanding our presence towards Arunachal Pradesh and China. Only Th. Muivah fully supported my vision. Although Absalom Ramsan led an expedition to Arunachal, it ultimately didn’t succeed. After my retirement in October 2007, a new faction, NSCN-Unification (NSCN-U), emerged in November. I realised then that strengthening the Eastern Flank base under Hebron’s command was crucial for our defense and peace negotiations. In 2013, an agreement was made with Khaplang’s chairman to refrain from attacking each other and unite for the Naga nation, leading to the formation of a base in Somra in 2014.
- In 2010, arrest warrants were issued for key leaders, including me, Ningkhan Anthony and several others to weaken the movement by targeting its strong leadership. Ever since the efforts of such security devices – spying, tracking and arresting our top leaders, the Indian govt. has been able to dwindle our movement on various fronts over the past few decades. Therefore, we must unite against all odds. Personally, I firmly believed that, although we are temporarily divided, we will reunite again in the near future, as we are always united by our shared historical struggles, principles and thirst for dignified Freedom.
- In the history of our Naga political struggles (since my Joining in 1974), we have had several landmark achievements, which includes the declaration of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire Agreement in 1997, the recognition of the Unique Naga History and Culture by the GoI (as reflected in the FA), the signing of the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement in 2015, and several other important milestones. The history of those steps taken and the achievements thereof will come to light one day for people to understand. I revisit back the journey we collectively embarked upon and the milestones we have reached, I look back with pride and honour, and not with strain and defeat. This mirrors very much in the way I approach our movement today for achieving a dignified Naga Political future.
(The interview is conducted by the Chief Editor, Ekhon. For any queries regarding story publications at EKHON, write to us at connectekhon@gmail.com)
(This interview is exclusive of EKHON and should not be reproduced without prior permission.)
