Kohima, January 11: The NSCN-IM today alleged the Centre was handling the Naga unification issue in an unbecoming way and using vested groups of a particular tribe to befool it.

In a statement, the NSCN-IM expressed strong reservation against the move for Naga unification in the present form, and accused the Centre of "surreptitiously playing the communal card by using the vested groups of a particular Naga tribe to befool it".

It said Semas led by Western Sumi Hoho and Sumi Hoho in collaboration with Azheto Chophy and his accomplices, stood ex-communicated from the Naga community for betraying the Naga cause.

Last November, a section of NSCN-IM cadres led by senior functionary Azheto Chophy left the group and formed NSCN-Unification Camp with cadres of NSCN-K.Since then, NSCN-IM and NSCN-Unification Camp have engaged in a war of words accusing each other of stepping up intimidation, kidnapping and extortion in and around Dimapur town.

The NSCN-IM said history would bear witness to the indignity of some Sema Church leaders who jumped into the bandwagon of "traitors and deserters", from the group.

"Taking the name of God, these Church leaders even went thus far to denounce NSCN chairman Isak Chishi Swu in preference to Azheto Chophy, a habitual defector," the statement said.

Squarely blaming the Centre for the latest developments, the NSCM-IM said: "The world is watching closely how India is making a mess of the Indo-Naga political issue".

NSCN(I-M) General Secretary Th Muivah had earlier said that he favoured broad based unity and unification among all Nagas irrespective of present political boundaries, but strongly opposed the on-going style of unification led by 'defectors in connivance with the NSCN(K) group'.

On the other hand, NSCN (Unification) has charged Th Muivah of being an obstacle to peace and unification of the Nagas, saying anti-Naga forces in Camp Hebron (NSCN-IM headquarters) did not want unity among the Naga tribes and were allegedly indulging in anti-social and anti-people activities in Nagaland.

In a statement, the spokesman of NSCN (Unification camp) Hokato Vusshe alleged that all past efforts for unification and cessation of bloodshed among the Nagas hit roadblocks after Muivah had opted for a no compromise policy and deviated from the desire of the Nagas, 'to give vent to his ire on those opposing his hegemony'.

Hokato claimed, Muivah resorted to politics by writing to the Government of India that NSCN Unified Team was responsible for the 20-odd cases of abduction at Dimapur because he was apprehensive of being removed from his position.

In another statement, the Unification camp, established in a village on the outskirts of Dimapur, denied the NSCN(I-M) allegation that it in the name of Naga unification kidnapped businessmen and extorted crores of rupees during during December to procure arms and set up bunkers.

Meanwhile, efforts were on by NGOs and Tribal councils to make the unification process meaningful and broadbased, with appeals to the rival underground groups to stop the on-going war of words in the local media.

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