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The extension of the ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), led by Th. Muivah and Issac Chisi Swu, and government forces for another year starting August 1, 2001, was greeted with relief by Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), the church and people of Nagaland.
The current ceasefire is to end in July 2001.
While Naga Ho-Ho, the apex tribal body representing the 20-odd Naga tribes, said an official reaction would be issued only after receiving the news from government channels, sources in the group said the extension was expected notwithstanding the threatening noises made by the NSCN (I-M).
"There is too much public pressure on the insurgent leaders to let this opportunity for long-term peace in the state pass by. They could not have done anything else," says a Ho-Ho member.
Church officials also echoed similar views.
"Four years of ceasefire has given the people of Nagaland respite from years of turmoil. Why would anyone let it end?" asked a church official.
The army and security forces also welcomed the development. "The agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M) is welcome," an army spokesman in Nagaland said.
The ceasefire between the NSCN (I-M) and the Union Government was first initiated in July 1997 and has since been extended every year.
The decision to extend the ceasefire was taken after a two-day meeting between Muivah and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's emissary K Padmanabhaiah in Bangkok.
The two sides, however, have not been able to make much headway on the modalities for talks or the demand for extending the ceasefire to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, states neighbouring Nagaland.
However, the three states (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are ruled by the Congress) have opposed the idea fearing it would give a fillip to the insurgent groups' demand for a 'greater Nagaland' through annexation of the Naga-inhabited areas of these states.
Another fear is that the Naga outfits would take advantage of the ceasefire and resort to extortions, collection of illegal taxes and kidnappings in these states.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had since last October held at least four rounds of meetings with the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya, but failed to hammer out a consensus on the issue.
One of the suggestions that emerged was to extend the ceasefire to the entire North-east.
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