Why does the Naga International Support Centre's criticism exactly mirrors the anti-ULFA propaganda of the Unified Command Structure?
The Naga International Support Centre, a human rights organisation with the acronym NISC, has published some material on 19 November 2007 criticizing the United Liberation Front of Asom which is recognised as the sole and united revolutionary organisation of the masses of Asom (Assam). Surprisingly, all the censure by the NISC reflects the propaganda that has been campaigned against the ULFA by the Indian occupation forces created "Unified Command Structure" to crush the struggle ongoing for restoration of the sovereignty of Asom. To put blame on the ULFA and label us as a terrorist organisation internationally, causing fatalities of innocents by exploding bombs in crowded place is a design of the occupation forces has been proven by the recently released report of the secret killings conducted by Justice Saikia. Therefore, the NISC trying to put the blame on the ULFA even after the report of the commission implies that the NISC has close association with the Indian occupation forces. The life of Chairman Isacc Shu of NSCN(IM) at Kachin and General Secretary of NSCN(IM) Muivah was not saved by the firepower or diplomacy of his senior commanders, but, by the ULFA. Today same ULFA is being accused by NISCs propaganda release that we are trying to split the Nagas. Whether the divisions in the Naga was brought in by the ULFA or by themselves, would be acknowledged by all Nagas including Isaac Shu and General secretary Muivah. The NISC need not come up with suggestions. The NISC has been supporting the illegal encroachment into Asom territory by NSCN(I-M) and establishing of sub-divisions in these encroached areas in a planned manner in the name of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim. Ordinary citizens and NSCN(I-M) uses Asom as a corridor unhindered. Indian soldiers travels or patrols inside Nagaland all the time without any objection from NSCN(I-M), nor are they facing any attack from NSCN(I-M). On the other hand, ULFA cadres travelling through Namtola inside Asom upon being attacked accusing them of using the territories of Greater Nagalim killing two of our cadres and taking seven others hostages, the NISC has not made any protest at all. The split in NSCN took place in 1988. The ULFA has made it absolutely clear then that the organization would take part against our common enemy with both parties. It was also made clear without ambiguity to both parties that ULFA shall never take side in their internal differences and always stay neutral. The NISC is well aware of the position but this has not been highlighted in their statement. NSCN(I-M) has been using various tact and tried to coerce the ULFA many a times to go against the Khaplang faction of the NSCN. The latest attempt is by killing of two ULFA cadres and hostage taking of seven others after ambushing them inside Asom soil bordering Nagaland on 11 November 2007. The NISC despite identifying themselves as a human rights organisation has not shown any disapproval on this blatant violation. This attack on the ULFA cadres inside Asom borders by the NSCN(I-M) was a design to force the ULFA to take their side against the NSCN(K). The NISC now getting involved in anti-ULFA propaganda illustrate a prejudicial stance by the organisation. This little known organisation (NISC) overnight becoming active in human rights field and suddenly making anti-ULFA propaganda, has made some people suspect that the Indian intelligence agency RAW is the catalyst behind its creation. The NISC apart from supporting Greater Nagalim is also advocating it as a right of Nagas is on record. The NISC is not only unconcerned about the opposition from the masses of Asom in inclusion of large areas of Asom inside Greater Nagalim, but, campaigning on behalf of people who are illegally occupying parts of Asom by force. The NISC is also supporter of forceful occupation of the Dimasa ancestral land Dimapur and inclusion of this historical Dimasa land inside Nagalim. What kind of human rights organisation is this NISC, which supports forceful illegal occupation backed by firepower to evict Assamese from their historical ancestral land in the name of creation of greater Nagalim? Just for the cause of Naga rights how can they support gross human rights violations on the indigenous Assamese who have lived next door to the Nagas in kinship from time immemorial? Inequitable human rights advocacy is itself an enemy of humanity, which the NISC must comprehend. It would be better for such organisations to get involved in impartial human rights campaign than giving lessons to the ULFA on human rights and be a party to maligning the ULFA and trying to destroy the national liberation struggle of Asom. The NISC have been will fully keeping quite about Asom being a land of composite people made out of Assmese, Bodo, Karbi, Rava, Missing, Tiwa and Tai speakers who enjoy collective and universal rights where they live. Moreover, it is also cunningly suppressing the fact that the ULFA is not representing only a certain section, but, it is formed by and for all the people of Asom to establish our Sovereign identity with universal indigenous rights. The NISC bringing the rights of the Bodos seems to have ignored the rights of the non-Bodos. The NISC has supported the violation of the historical rights of the Kochrajbongshis of Asom who are an integral part of the composite Assamese identity. How can then the NISC earn respect as a human rights organisation? During a joint executive council meeting between the ULFA and the NDFB(National Democratic Front of Bodoland), we have clearly stated that the ULFA recognises rights of the Bodos to establish a sovereign Bodoland on the Bodo inhabited region. Therefore, now the NISC accusing the ULFA of violating Bodo rights is another attempt only to vilify the ULFA internationally. Everybody who wishes well of Asom need to appreciate that the ULFA sees Asom as a collective habitat for peoples regardless of race, class, caste, tribe or religious belongingness. These collective rights in our shared habitat must be recognised and respected by the inhabitants and this is the key to establishment of permanent peace in Asom. In contrast to such shared approach, advocacy to create separate countries on the line of ethnicity or faction is simply promoting ethnic strife for the future. Logic and rationality need to replace emotion in judging such situations objectively. Human rights organisations are known to be neutral in dealing with revolutionary organisations rather than being instrumental in instigating conflicts amongst them. In stead of fostering a partisan human rights ideation, if the NISC with total neutrality spreads the word of human rights situation in our region, it is not only the Nagalim and Bodoland will benefit but it will boost the implementation and improvement of human rights across the region and at the same time uplift the Naga struggle to a different level. Rubi Bhuyan Central Publicity Member,ULFA 22.11.07 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/files/misc/ulfa_05.pdf
