Perietsü Kevichüsa Meru (/ˈkɛvitʃsə/; 30 March 1948 – 4 June 1996), commonly known as Tubu Kevichüsa was a politician from Nagaland, India who served as the General Secretary of Naga National Council until his assassination in June 1996 by armed men from the NSCN-IM. His brother Chalie Kevichüsa was also assassinated by the NSCN-IM in September 1992.[1][2]
Early life
Perietsü Tubu Kevichüsa was born on 30 March 1948[3] in Kohima to a prominent family with significant political influence in Nagaland throughout the last half of the 20th century. His mother and father were Germanthangi and Kevichüsa Angami. His mother is Mizo, originating from present-day Mizoram. His father is Angami Naga, originating from Khonoma.[4]
“You simply just cannot expect the people to accept a manifesto drafted in a remote jungle hideout as a gospel truth! Our people have a strong sense of tradition and the only ism that they know is Naga Nationalism so that a Socialist manifesto is an obscure to them as some ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic. As for the intellectuals and pseudo intellectuals, a Socialist manifesto is just another piece of literature which they come across daily, to be read, discarded and forgotten”.
“What I am trying to say is that while both of you (Isak C. are Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah) capable leaders, none of you are theoreticians. Hence your attempt to provide a new theoretical basis for the Nagas is bound to fail. With certain exceptions, theoreticians cannot be leaders and leaders cannot be theoreticians. And what I am trying to plead for is that we, just cannot ignore tradition and we must never pollute the spirit of Naga Nationalism with other forms of ism”.[2]
Assassination
On 4 June 1996, around midnight Kevichüsa was assassinated by armed rebels from the NSCN-IM at his personal residence at Burma Camp, Dimapur.[6]
I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.
NSCN-IM's response
Deepak Dewan, the Political Editor of North East Sun asked Thuingaleng Muivah in Bangkok, Thailand, on the killing of Kevichüsa, Muivah said:
“His brother (Tubu) deserved to be shot. And we don't make any secret of it. You know how Tubu behaved. How he started condemning everybody. He did not have any regard for any national workers. And he started projecting himself as a person who was all in all.”
— (Quote: North East Sun, 1-14 August 1998 issue, page
15)