Search the Internet           Tips

Centre fears Nagaland truce may
be nearing breaking point

The three-year-old truce between a major Naga militant group and the Centre has almost reached a breaking point reports from Nagaland indicate.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah group), a banned outfit and arguably the biggest of several insurgent groups fighting against the Indian state, has accused the Union government of having repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement.

Talking to reporters at Dimapur on Thursday, convenor of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell and an important underground leader, self-styled Colonel Phunting Shimrang said : "The security forces are frequently carrying out raids against our cadres and on our camps. This is in complete violation of the ceasefire pact."

The truce between the Centre and the NSCN began in August 1997. It has been extended every year since then. At present, it is in force till August 2001 but, of late, there have been increasing signs of impatience on both sides.

Two days before Shimrang held the press conference, the General Officer Commanding in Nagaland, Maj Gen R N Kapur, warned the militants of stern steps 'if they did not stop extortion, killings and abductions."

Gen. Kapur said the NSCN cadres would be dealt with severely if they violate the ceasefire terms.

He said, "The NSCN (IM) is obviously not honouring its commitment towards maintaining peace in the larger interest of the people of Nagaland. Let the public be convinced of NSCN (IM)'s sincerity in maintaining peace by action and not by words alone."

Sporadic instances of truce pact terms being violated is not the only problem. The NSCN (IM) has demanded the extension of the ceasefire to what it calls 'all Naga-inhabited areas of the north-east'.

The Centre has so far not responded to this demand mainly because the areas in question fall in neighbouring states like Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Chief ministers of all the three states have strongly opposed the extension of the ceasefire to their states.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has, in fact, had a meeting with the chief ministers of all the north-eastern states on this issue before he went to Bombay for his knee operation.

The NSCN(IM) has also gone on the offensive after its leader Th Muivah was released on bail by a Thai court in September. Muivah was arrested in Thailand last year on charges of travelling on a forged document.

Muivah, along with Issac Chisi Swu, has been at the forefront of the Naga insurgency since the 1960s. The Naga insurgency is the oldest militant movement in the world today, having been launched in 1956 by A Z Phizo.

The latest hiccup is worrying both the Centre and the Nagaland government since escalation of violence is a distinct possibility if the ceasefire agreement breaks down.

ALSO SEE
NSCN sore with India for not trying to get Muivah freed
NSCN demand for ceasefire extension to other NE states rejected
NSCN wants government to accept ceasefire offer
ISI is training NSCN guerrillas
Thailand halts India's peace talks with NSCN
Cease-fire in Nagaland comes under strain
Nagaland CM escapes assassination by hair's breadth
Ceasefire announced with Khaplang faction of NSCN
Naga groups threaten blockade of Manipur
Naga ceasefire extended for one more year

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report