Naga rebels bar ex-CM

The Naga rebel group in truce, the NSCN-IM is apparently all set to throw its weight during the forthcoming Assembly election in Nagaland early next year.

The first indication about the rebel group's intention to meddle in the polls came when it decided to impose ban on the entry of veteran Congress leader, former state chief minister and now Governor of Goa S C Jamir into Nagaland.

Political observers in North East construe the NSCN-IM move against Jamir as a ploy to prevent the politician from taking part in the next Assembly election in the hill state where people now breathe easy because of the prevailing peace, thanks to truce between the Centre and Naga rebel groups, NSCN-IM and NSCN-K.

The NSCN-IM is expected to ensure that a 'friendly' government comprising people, who will abide by its "whims and fancy", is installed in Kohima after the polls.

The NSCN-IM can't trust Jamir given its old rivalry with the former chief minister. He is one of the rare politicians in Nagaland who dared to take on the NSCN-IM while he was the chief minister during the blood-splattered

days.

Jamir narrowly escaped on three occasions when the NSCN-IM rebels made abortive attempts on his life because of his bold stand against the designs of the rebels while he was the chief minister of Nagaland.  A book titled 'Bed Rock of Naga Society" complied under his patronage had made the NSCN-IM see red.

After it had signed the ceasefire pact with the Centre to engage in peace negotiation, the NSCN-IM apparently ensured that Jamir was kept out of the entire peace process despite his vast experience and colossal presence in Nagaland politics. The group wants to keep him out of even a decade after signing the truce pact with the Centre.

The NSCN-IM has issued a statement barring Jamir's entry into Nagaland.

"In the interest of maintaining peace and social order, S C Jamir is barred from all kinds of social interaction and entry into Nagaland territory. All his accomplices who attempt to bail Jamir out shall also be put under surveillance," said a statement issued by the NSCN-IM's chief principal secretary Samson Jajo.