General information
First Active Year: 1990
Current Name: NSCN-IM
Current Name full English: National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah faction
Current Name full native language: National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah faction
Original Name: NSCN
Original Name full English: National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Original Name full native language: National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Name Change: From NSCN to NSCN-IM
On: 1988-04-30
Broke Away from Actor: NNC (Naga Nationalist Council)
On: 1980-01-31
Conflict issues
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Conflict Goal Issues: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah (NSCN-IM) was a rebel group in mainly India that originated from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) that formed in 1980. After internal conflict in 1988, Isaac Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah formed the NSCN-IM faction, while S. S. Khaplang formed the NSCN-K faction. As the NSCN-IM traces its origins back to the NSCN, the first pronounced conflict goals issues concerned independence as a Socialist state and an economic system that was based on Christianity: “Nagaland for Christ”. The socialist and religious demands were only coded once in 1980. Calls for an independent Nagaland persisted through the 1990s. However, as the independence claim also encompassed constitutional protection of parts of neighboring Manipur the mere public mention of the territorial claim during the negotiations received backlash from the Government of India. Which occurred as Muivah expressed the right for self-determination of Nagas in Nagaland, a demand shy of independence which the group previously renounced. Besides calling for self-determination and cultural rights, the group opposed elections in the region from 1997 to 2000. It also raised the issue of alleged ballot stuffing. The main issue NSCN-IM seems to have been independence, even if the issue was publicly dropped during the negotiations in the late 1990s and replaced by a call for autonomy. While opposition to elections was more frequent, the contentious nature of the territorial claim both vis-a-vis the central Government of India and the regional leadership in Manipur might explain the groups decision to drop the issue during the period in which the group was engaged in negotiations with the Government of India.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: The only and main conflict dynamics issue that the project has been able to locate for NSCN-IM was the accusation of abuses perpetrated by the Government of India.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The first coded conflict resolution issue was a call for negotiations in 1996. A call repeated up until 2001. As the group singed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, it accused the Government of violating the agreement and called for it to abide by it. Another issue voiced by NSCN-IM was for the negotiations to take place at the “highest level” and outside of India. In 2001, the group sought to extend the ceasefire to include parts of neighboring states, with the claim that it should cover all places where Nagas were to be found.
The main conflict resolution issue seems to have been negotiations, as it was the most frequent and persistent issue.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Autonomy, Change economic system, Constitutional issues, CPS: Socialist state, Cultural rights, Electoral fraud, Independence, Opposition to elections, Religious rights
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for ceasefire, Call for implementation/abiding to ceasefire, Call for negotiations, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1989
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - Civilians
1992
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of India - NSCN-IM
1993
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Government of India - NSCN-IM
1994
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Government of India - NSCN-IM
1995
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Government of India - NSCN-IM
1996
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Government of India - NSCN-IM
1997
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of India - NSCN-IM
2000
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of India - NSCN-IM
2001
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
2005
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
2006
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
2007
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
2008
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
NSCN-IM - NSCN-U
2011
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992 Group Archive
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Comment on Active: Throughout 1992, the NSCN (I-M) kept fighting against the NSCN (K) which led to heavy casualties.
Troop Size: 600 - 1500
Comment on Troop Size: Before the internal feuding the NSCN had 2000 guerrilla soldiers, after the split the main residual group has maintained at least 600.
Secondary Support: From its early onset, strong regional linkages could be observed in connection with the Naga-insurgency. The China patronage to the Nagas in the early phase of the insurgency became less dominant in the 90s. More evident was the establishment of several training centres on the plains of Bangladesh in the early 90s. They constituted a base not only for the NSCN-insurgency, but also for other Indian rebel groups such as ULFA (Assam), PLA (Manipur) and ATTF (Tripura), securing them close links to each other. Also operating from Bangladesh territory, Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence strengthened the I-M faction in its struggle for supremacy through weapon delivery and cooperation on security matters. The rebels also use Burmese territory as sanctuary for cross-border raids into Nagaland and as a route for smuggling weapons through to the volatile northeastern territory of India. The Isaac-Muviah faction of NSCN lost its dominance in Burma to the Khaplang faction. The involvement of the Burmese state is somewhat unclear.
1993 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isaac-Muivah faction
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isaac-Muivah faction
Troop Size: 1500
Comment on Troop Size: Before the internal feuding the NSCN had 2000 guerrilla soldiers, after the split the main residual group has maintained at least 600 in 1990. Best estimate 1993: 1500
Secondary Support: Reports exist that throughout 1992 and 1993, Pakistans ISI supplied over 1 million US$ in military aid to NSCN-IM, including significant amounts of weaponry.
1994 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Troop Size: 1500 - 4500
Comment on Troop Size: Low estimate from early 90s and high estimate from 2002
1995 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac Muivah faction
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac Muivah faction
Troop Size: 1500 - 4500
Comment on Troop Size: Low estimate from early 90s and high estimate from 2002
Secondary Support: "The NSCN (I-M) allegedly initiates the establishment of an umbrella-organisation named the ""Self defence United Front of the South-eastern Himalayan region, comprising seven other rebel-splinter groups in the area. The secondary support took the form of cooperation in security matters. The formation of this umbrella organisation is one of several examples of how the NSCN (I-M) try to forge an alliance between different secessionist movements in the northeast."
1996 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - Civilians
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Troop Size: 1500 - 4500
Comment on Troop Size: Low estimate: early 90s and high estimate from 2002
Secondary Support: After several years of mutual allegations, negotiations were initiated between India and Bangladesh to halt the use of Bangladesh territory as sanctuary for Indian insurgency movements. During the year, NSCN (I-M) started having talks with the Myanmar government with the ambition to retain the old NSCN bases in Myanmar, ousting the NSCN (K) faction, with the support of the Myanmar
1997 Group Archive
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Comment on Active: As part of the ceasefire agreement in August, the armed forces were confined to their barracks which led to an increase of fighting between the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K. Most of the casualties during the latter half of the year were caused by inter-fighting between different insurgent groups. 120-170 persons were allegedly killed in inter-factional violence during the first three months following the ceasefire. On 17 November 1997 the Khaplang faction of the NSCN offered a truce to the Isaac Muivah faction, and this move was reciprocated the following day.
Troop Size: 1500 - 4500
Comment on Troop Size: Low estimate from the early 90s, high estimate from 2002
2000 Group Archive
Government of India - NSCN-IM
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
Comment on Active: Apart from fighting the government in 2000, violence also increased between the two rival factions of NSCN. The clashes between the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K led to more than 75 deaths during the year.
Troop Size: 1500 - 4500
Comment on Troop Size: Best estimate 3000-3500. NSCN-IM is allegedly the best armed, trained and motivated of the northeastern insurgents groups. They attempt to replicate the Indian Army command structure and rank, and should be termed highly skilled guerrilla warriors. Armed with AK-47/ AK-56 assault rifles, rocket and grenade launchers and explosive devices.
Secondary Support: "An intelligence report and several news sources suggested that the NSCN (I-M) had revived its clandestine connections with China in 2000, striking a deal for ""a major arms consignment"". Some sources cast doubt on the rebel outfits commitment to peace, accusing them of using the ceasefire for re-organisation and establishing a stronghold inside Nagaland."
2001 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
2005 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
2006 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isaac-Muivah faction
2007 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah faction)
2011 Group Archive
NSCN-IM - NSCN-K
Comment on Name: National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isack-Muivah
