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Govt, NSCN (I-M) agree to extend ceasefire

The term of the previous ceasefire had ended on December 31 and the decision to extend it was taken at a meeting between both sides last week in which a revised set of ground rules were also decided upon, a Union home ministry spokesman said.

The ceasefire has been continuing since it was agreed upon between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M) on July 25, 1997, and the ground rules on December 12 that year.

Under the fresh ground rules, which were finalised on Saturday last, the insurgent group would notify all its camps to the CFMG, which would declare them as 'designated camps' and the NSCN (I-M) cadres would not carry out parades in populated areas, roads and highways in Nagaland.

It was also mutually agreed that 'no safe haven or assistance would be provided to any armed group or elements by anyone' and no army post would be set up within two kilometres of the 'designated camps', the spokesman said.

CFoncerned army and paramilitary forces' posts would be given prior intimation about the movement of NSCN (I-M) cadres and the modalities would be finalised at the CFMG, he said.

Photo-identity cards, not more than 60, would be issued to NSCN (I-M) cadres by the insurgent outfit and they would be countersigned by CFMG.

During movement of these cadres, they would be allowed to carry arms in a concealed manner, especially when they were passing through villages.

The insurgent group also agreed to prevent forcible collection of money from government officials and forced recruitment of cadres, the spokesman said.

It was also agreed that security forces would not carry out offensive operations against NSCN (I-M) and act in a manner causing damage or injury to civilian population.

However, the security forces would continue their operations to prevent infiltration of militants and arms, but inform the designated insurgent camps in case they had to carry out patrolling within a kilometre radius of these camps.

The NSCN (I-M) agreed that its designated camps would not be located in populated areas or near highways, while the security forces would undertake operations to protect convoys on these highways, the spokesman said.

The two sides also agreed that any accidental encounter or violation should not be allowed to jeopardise the peace process and mutual consultations should be undertaken to defuse the situation.

All cases of ground rule violation would be referred to the CFMGs, the spokesman added.

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