Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

WASHINGTON: Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat-California, seems to have been unwittingly drawn into a controversy over her alleged support to the cause of the rebel Nagas, led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), according to Congressional sources.

Her Chief of Staff Sam Chapman and others flatly denied media reports that the senator had anything to do with the Nagaland issue. They made it clear that Sen. Boxer had neither made any speech nor given any indication of her support for the rebels’ cause, which has raised a hue and cry in the Indian media, especially in the Northeastern part of the country.

The culprit seems to be none other than the “Grace Collins, the registered U.S. Foreign Agent for Nagaland,” who is believed to have met the senator and had sought her support.

Collins told News India-Times in a telephone interview Aug. 20 that the Washington, D.C., office for NSCN (I-M) began functioning from 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue. “But we will be moving to a better place very soon.”

Asked about her interest in the Nagas, and her agenda forng the office, Collins became defensive, and said: “It is all about culture, you know. We are trying to expose the unique culture of Nagaland to the Americans. The dance of Nagaland is unique and we are trying to bring dance troupes from there to present the colorful folk dances here.”

Collins, who had worked from 1995 to 1997 with the United Nations, is believed to have visited Nagaland in connection with the issues of indigenous people that were discussed during a U.N. meeting in Geneva. Asked whether she had any political motives in being the U.S. Foreign Agent for Nagaland, Collins said: “No. We are only very happy to note that the Indian government has held peace talks with the Naga leaders.”

To a specific question on whether she knew that Nagaland was an integral part of India, Collins said: “Yes, I know. But there have been some human rights violations there.” When it was pointed out that this was an internal matter of India, Collins quickly responded: “Yes. I know. That’s why I am saying we are glad that the peace talks are being held.”

Whatever her motives are, Collins has apparently lost some credibility after the controversy over Sen. Boxer. Collins herself admitted that it was a “mistake” that the speech, written by her, had landed in India as delivered by Sen. Boxer. “How this happened, I do not know,” Collins said.

Chapman and others explained that hundreds of people like Collins come to the Hill to meet with lawmakers seeking their support for various causes. But what intrigued the staff and even Sen. Boxer herself, is that newspapers in India carried speeches of the senator which she had not even seen. When the published reports were brought to the attention of the senator’s office, Boxer promptly issued a denial and sent letters to The Sentinel, published from Agartala, and The Telegraph, published from Kolkata, which had carried her speeches pledging her support to the cause of the Naga rebels.

The Telegraph story claimed that Sen. Boxer was taking a U.S. delegation on a “fact-finding mission to Nagaland” to study the problems that have fueled unrest in Nagaland for over five decades now.”

Denying all these reports as “totally false” Chapman, told News India-Times that “the story’s entire premise is false, and it is filled with false information. Sen. Boxer did not attend any such event (as the inauguration of the D.C. office.) The senator has made no speech or statements about Nagaland or the Naga movement, nor taken any position on the issues involved. She has had no involvement with this issue. Any characterization which indicates she has taken a position on these issues is false.”

Congressional sources also expressed their doubts about Collins and her mission. “After she landed Sen. Boxer in a controversy, Collins credibility seems to be questionable” they said.