145;Naga cause146; awaits Manipur mandate

The battle, says the United Naga Council, is Naga integration vs Manipur integration. Two Naga districts have already made their choice

ON FEBRUARY 5, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi was addressing two, huge rallies in Imphal Valley where she promised to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur, Naga leaders were at another rally in the hill district of Ukhrul, declaring that the 2007 elections were about 8220;Manipur integration vs Naga integration8221;.

Whatever was said at the Ukhrul rally wasn8217;t an attempt at electioneering, the Naga movement for integration of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur with the existing Nagaland for a Greater Nagalim is following a well thought-out script. Dissatisfied with the work done for the 8220;Naga cause8221; by Naga politicians, Manipur8217;s apex Naga body 8212; the United Naga Council UNC 8212; asked sitting Naga MLAs and aspirant Naga politicians to sever all ties with the national and regional parties, and unite under the UNC umbrella to be chosen as 8220;consensus candidates8221;.

Sixty aspirants went on to sign an eight-point declaration which bound them to support the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN and the Centre, defend the interest of Naga people for integration of Naga areas, resign from the Assembly if called upon by the people represented by UNC, not join or support other parties or ruling government without the UNC8217;s approval. More significantly, they would not dispute the UNC8217;s choice of candidate and would be open to any measure taken against them should they fail to go by the declaration.

UNC president KS Paul Leo strongly denies that the council is carrying out the agenda of the NSCN I-M. 8220;Past experience has shown us that MLAs from established political parties are no good. Besides, peace talks are going on between the NSCN I-M and the Government of India,8221; says Leo. 8220;We feel it is the duty of Naga MLAs and MPs to help the cause. It8217;s been 10 years of talks and patience is running out. The Nagas in Manipur must unite to take legislative initiative.8221;

Of the 60 candidates, the UNC shortlisted 11 for 11 constituencies in Naga districts, several of whom went to the polls in Senapati and Ukhrul on February 8 during the first phase. 8220;The criteria are their past performance on the Naga issue and how they have championed the cause,8221; says Leo.

But the cracks are already apparent as several signatories who didn8217;t get a ticket have gone on to contest as independents. 8220;Of course, those who haven8217;t been selected will be cut up. We8217;ll definitely take action against those who have gone against the UNC,8221; Leo points out.

The UNC has a three-pronged move to achieve its objectives. First, it launched the Naga non-cooperation movement in November 2005. The UNC declared that all Naga areas in Manipur would revert to old Naga names, including villages, rivers and hills and would stop paying the hill house tax to the Manipur government. Instead, the tax would handed over to the Centre or the Nagaland government.

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Second, the move to affiliate schools in Naga districts with the Nagaland school board instead of the Manipur board so that Naga students in Manipur could study the Nagaland board syllabus which includes the history of the Naga struggle for self-determination. The UNC says around 4,000 students from Manipur are taking the NBSE Std X exams that began on February 7. The third is picking candidates for the elections.

Sitting MLA from Karong Senapati Henry Paotei, however, is unfazed by Leo8217;s tough talk. Paotei signed the UNC declaration but he didn8217;t get a ticket and went on to contest as an independent. 8220;They are not dictators, but a supporting body for the Naga cause. We don8217;t agree with the clause that no one should dispute their choice of candidate. Let the people decide. I am for the Naga cause. Look at Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh. If they can get it, why not the Nagas?8221; he says.

With two Naga districts already having gone to the polls, the die is cast for the UNC. What remains to be seen is whether its cause is also the cause of the people it seeks to represent.