A grand deception in Kohima

Election-related dictats of the NSCN (I-M) are intricately related to the fractious peace process, highlighted by a tactless meeting between Deve Gowda and the insurgent leaders. The Naga outfit, seeking international intervention, have been assiduously cultivating the UNPO, European Parliament and Netherlands-based NGOs.

The Naga Hoho and NGOs, dictatedby the ubiquitous NSCN supremos, had given a call for boycotting the elections on December 5, 1997. It is alleged that pro-Jamir Congress faction, sore with the Delhi-sponsored peace process, had welcomed the boycott call, but preferred the elections to be held under Presidents rule, for avoiding confrontation with the insurgent outfit.

However, Naga Kilonsers (council of Ministers) issued another fatwa on December 12, announcing threat of `capital punishment’ to those participating in elections. The UN body frustrated efforts of the NSCN (I-M) to raise the Naga issue in the Human Rights Sub-Committee on January 13, on ground that the insurgent outfit had failed to discard the creed of violence.

The NSCN supremos, thereafter, disowned the Kilonsers’ decision, for making their resolution more presentable before the Human Rights Sub-Committee. The NSCN (I-M) supremos adopted an equivocal stand on January 10, 1998 that the Kilonsers’ resolution was not approved by the `Collective Leadership’.

Next day theyinformed their European sponsors that the threat of intimidation had been dropped. This was followed, on January 12, by a tactical move or deception: withdrawal of all election-related resolutions by the Kilonsers. This was conveyed to the Government of India, but, as a strategic move, was withheld from the media.

While this volte face was welcomed by the political parties, the NSCN continued its game of confusing and obfuscating the people by circulating among the intending candidates a proclamation that they should not file nomination papers. The leaders of Nagaland Peoples’ Council, Nationalist Democratic Movement and the BJP, confused as they were, rushed to Delhi and after meeting the Home Minister, decided to boycott the polls.

The Congress, if adversaries of S.C. Jamir are to be believed, had by then struck a deal with the so called Kilonsers of the GPRN and filed nomination papers of its candidates. The BJP, committed to maintain national integrity, misled by its state leadership, succumbed to thediabolical scheme of the NSCN which was trying to prove that elections in Nagaland was the greatest farce in independent India. The Naga insurgent leaders succeeded in conning the political parties.

The ultimate decision to ask the Naga people to boycott the polls was interpreted as an act of supporting the wishes of the Naga People, expressed through various resolutions of the Naga Hoho and NGOs. Donning the garb of non-violent political movement was a game of deception. By walking into the NSCN (I-M) trap, the Congress has offered an opportunity to them to proclaim that the elections were imposed on the Naga people by an oppressive Indian Government.

The insurgent outfit is now trying to mobilise the anti-Jamir political forces, who did not participate in the elections, to build up protests and agitations against a `farcical poll’. Demands for Presidents’ rule have been voiced, probably as a pre-condition to any further negotiation with the Government of India. By walking into the traps of the NSCN(I-M), the Congress, BJP and other democratic political forces have created a piquant situation which may lead to another bout of violence.

The writer is a former IPS officer with experience in intelligence