United Naga Council in Manipur Electoral Politics
- Part 1 -

Aheibam Koireng *

United Naga Council UNC Logo

United Naga Council (UNC) came into existence with an objective to work as an apex organization of all the Nagas inside the territorial boundary of Manipur in 1992. UNC was also alleged as the over-ground wing of NSCN-IM by the Government of India when the Kuki-Naga clash was at its height.[Does Violence get a Mandate, GoI publications, 1993, P.25.].

In the year 1993, NSCN-IM became a member of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation(UNPO), an international organization which consist of members representing indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognized or occupied territories, with the objective of finding non violent solution to the conflicts which affect them. With it, the NSCN-IM was on the look for reaching out more and more to international communities.

At such time, the Government of India (GoI) brought out publications exposing the pogrom carried out against the Kukis in Manipur allegedly by the NSCN-IM which could discredit the representation submitted by the NSCN-IM to the UNPO on the basis of which subsequently granted its membership for 10 years. This breeds enough reason for speculation that if ever, top rung leaders of NSCN-IM had intention to seek political asylum to other countries, it became near impossible after the expose of 'Kuki pogrom' by the GoI.

Coincidentally, NSCN-IM's involvement in the mainstream politics of Manipur started to increase in leaps and bounds. In 1994, NSCN-IM issued a diktat to all Naga MLAs to resign their respective seat by 31 December of the year. And the Naga MLAs sent emissaries to negotiate with the NSCN-IM (which included Mr. Arthur who had earlier been caught for harboring unlicensed weapons).

This also shows that the NSCN-IM had a considerable hold on Naga MLA's. NSCN-IM boycotted the Seventh Manipur Assembly Election (MAE) and Twelfth,1997 and Thirteenth Lok Sabha Election (LSE), 1999. The NSCN-IM's call for boycott was stringently observed by some of the over-ground Naga organizations, mainly the United Naga Council (UNC) under the banner, "We want solution not election".

Later on 10 February, NSCN-IM issued note of appreciation jointly signed by both Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah, expressing appreciation and thanks to UNC and others for "their outstanding decision to disallow the imposition of Indian election in Nagalim.

It says, "The Collective Leadership acknowledges here its profound gratitude to the Naga people for their outstanding decision to disallow the imposition of Indian elections in Nagalim. We would particularly like to thank the Naga Hobo Summit, United Naga Council, Naga Peoples' Movements for Human Rights, Naga Students' Federation, Naga Mothers' Association, Naga Village Chief's Federation Concerned Citizen Forum, Naga GB' Federations, political parties and the Church leaders for their decisiveness in asserting the national rights of the Naga people. …"

In the Seventh Assembly Election of 2000, the number of Kuki MLA's had outnumbered the elected Naga MLAs. In the 12thand 13thLSE also, Kukis got elected as Member of Parliament (MP) from the lone reserved Scheduled Tribes seat. With it, the top rung leadership in the NSCN-IM became more prominent than those Naga leaders in the mainstream politics.

In the meantime, in the year 2000, NSCN-IM was able to spawn two more outfits among the Kukis.Mr. Thangkholem Haokip, left out in the run up to the elections, decided to oppose the KNO and KNA. He sent feelers to the NSCN-IM for an alliance. Thangkholem raised a new group called the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF). Chandel District, in the absence of any armed force support, came under the control of the NSCN-IM-UKLF axis.

Likewise, Khulam Hangshing, who controlled the Sadar Hills of Senapati District,denied a chance of contesting the elections by the KNF-MC, rebelled and extended support to the ancient enemy. The fertile Saikul Valley was lost to the KNF-MC as a new outfit, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), was formed with NSCN-IM weapons in November 2000. In the 8th MAE, 2002 and the 14th LSE, 2004, NSCN-IM decided the fate of the Naga mainstream politics, right from the selection of the candidate to their election.

Rishang Keishing, the longest serving Chief Minister of Manipur before the anti-Defection act came into existence was defeated at the Phungyar AC of Ukhrul District. His defeat can only be understood in terms of the opposition to him by the Naga insurgents. With the submission of a signed Memorandum by Naga MPs/MLAs of the state to the Prime Minister openly supporting the aspired'Nagalim' on 27 May 2005, the underground agenda of creating divisions between the various communities in Manipur synergized with mainstream politics.

In the 9th MAE, 2007, UNC, while considering it as an opportunity of strengthening the 'Indo-Naga' peace process for securing the aspirations of the 'Naga people for a united Naga Homeland' involved in a big way. On the eve of 9th MAE, the UNC, its constituent Tribe Councils/Hohos and the Naga civil societies have decided to define the objectives with which the Naga people must approach the same for securing representatives through whom the voice of the Naga people can be articulated loud, clear and consistently.

They are outlined as follows: 'to fulfill the inherent and democratic aspiration of the Naga people for unification of all homeland; to mobilize the peoples' fullest support of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue for an honourable solution; to provide leadership to society in nation building; and to promote the common interest of all ethnic communities in the state.'

The UNC appeals to the Nagas of Manipur to choose /elect only those candidates who have no party affiliation whatsoever, who enjoys the confidence of their respective Assembly Constituencies (ACs) who are god fearing and who subscribes to the above four objectives (in italics) to work unitedly with his/her other fellow Naga representatives elected in the same manner.

The UNC appeals to the Naga people of Manipur through their respective tribal Council/Hohos, churches; intelligentsia; professionals; women, youth and student's organisations to rally behind the goal to mutually strengthen for the unification of the Nagas. This is possible through the empowerment of the people, where "our people free themselves from the clutches of power mongering politicians who have been always guided by their self centered agenda".

"The Nagas of Manipur have to go beyond the immediate compulsions of personal gains; family, clan, village, and tribal interests and political opportunism. We must ensure the return of responsible candidates with clear visions who will represent the Nagas aspirations and carry forward our struggle for peace, justice, and freedom. It is an uphill task but we must do it because we know what awaits us if we don't," it further says.[ United Naga Council, Call for Democratic Expression of our Birth Right: Position Paper on the 9th General Election 2007, Manipur.]

On 3 August 2006, UNC took a resolution wherein Naga candidates had been instructed against contesting the 9thMAE under any national political parties and intimated to all the sitting Naga MLAs. This led the incumbent Congress MLA, RK Theko to state that the NSCN-IM was attempting to wipe out the Congress from the Naga areas through the UNC. It can be recollected that RK Theko was the President of UNC at a time when it issued Quit Notice to the Kukis in 1992.

Spat of resignation by Naga MLAs took place ahead of the 9th MAE in which five sitting legislatures resigned from the Manipur State assembly in support of the ongoing GoI–NSCN-IM peace process and 'to fulfill the inherent and democratic aspirations of Naga people' for "unification of all Naga Homeland". In the UNC sponsored meeting of the all the intending Naga candidates for the Manipur Assembly Election 2007, 60 Naga intending candidates signed the Eight Point Declaration.

The Declaration states: "I willfully support the ongoing Indo-Naga Peace talks for a negotiated and honorable Solution. On being elected I will steadfastly defend the interest of the Naga people for the integration/Unification of the Naga Areas; That I will resign from the Manipur Legislative Assembly if called upon to do so by the Naga people represented by the UNC; ... I declare that I will accept without any reservation whatsoever, the candidature of the particular person who is determined by the Naga people represented by the UNC to be the consensus candidate; ...I shall not defect/ split/ merge to any political party without the approval of the Naga people represented by the UNC. Failing to fulfill the above Commitments and Declaration, I and my witness shall be made liable to any measures adopted by the Naga people."

To be continued....