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Rebels warn 'another Chechnya'

in India's far east

GUWAHATI: A powerful tribal guerrilla group warned on Sunday that "another Chechnya" could emerge in far east India if other South Asian nations did not halt their support for an insurgency in the region.

The outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) said the arrest of the leader of a rival insurgent group in Bangkok last week should be an "eye opener" to countries seeking to end tribal violence.

"Sitting in Bangkok (rebel leader) Thuingaleng Muivah was masterminding all forms of killing in Nagaland and we believe his arrest will reduce the bloodshed in the region," NSCN chief, Kitovi Zhimomi told AFP by telephone.

Muivah's separatist group and the NSCN are waging parallel campaigns for a homeland in Nagaland. More than 25,000 people have died in insurgency-related violence in the far eastern Indian since 1947.

The Indian government last year brokered a cease fire with the NSCN, which collapsed amid continued violence in Nagaland.

The state shares a border with Myanmar.

"Thailand's tough action against terrorism should be followed by other nations who are deliberately sheltering leaders of rebel armies from neighbouring countries," the NSCN leader said.

"The region could become another Chechnya if cross-border terrorism is allowed by the neighbouring countries," he warned.

He also urged other Naga rebel factions to unite and open a political dialogue with New Delhi to end decades of bloodshed.

"Violence is no answer to solving any problem. We would like all warring Naga factions to unite and come on one platform and then hold peace talks with the Indian government," Zhimomi said.

"The government also should not think it can crush our movement by using military power.

"What we look for from New Delhi is sincerity in resolving the problem as peace and the unification of all Naga tribes are our top priority," the NSCN guerrilla leader added.

Besides Nagaland, tribal homeland campaigns have claimed thousands more lives in three other far east states including in Assam.ÑAFP