NSCN cease-fire
(Editorial in The assam Tribune on August 4, 2007)
The ten-year long cease-fire agreement between the Government of India and
NSCN (I-M) has been extended for an indefinite period with effect from August
1, which is no doubt, a positive sign. It has also proved that talks with the
group are progressing satisfactorily. Normally the terms of such cease-fire
agreements with militant groups are extended by either six months or one year,
at the end of which, the implementation of the ground rules of the agreements
are reviewed before going for further extension and for the first time, the
agreement with the NSCN has been extended for an indefinite period. Another
positive sign is that the decision to extend the term of the agreement was
signed following a meeting in Nagaland, which gave a chance to the top leaders
of the militant outfit and the Government representatives to feel the pulse of
the common people of the State. However, only extension of the term of the
cease-fire agreement will not help in solving the Naga
political problem and both the Government of India and the NSCN leadership
should try to expedite the process of talks. Not only Nagaland, but all the
States of the region are keenly watching the progress of the peace talks with
the NSCN (I-M) as success of the talks will definitely encourage other militant
groups active in the region to come forward for solving their problems through
political dialogue. But several key questions regarding the progress of the
talks between the Government and the NSCN still remain unanswered. The
Government of Assam has been claiming that the members of the NSCN were
extending helping hand to different militant outfits active in the State
including the DHD(J), commonly known as the Black Widow group, which is very
active in the North Cachar Hills district. The Assam Government is also of the
view that the members of the outfit might also be involved in the recent
trouble along the Assam-Nagaland border. However, the Government of India has
not made it clear whether such issues were raised during the last round of
meeting where the decision to extend the cease-fire for an indefinite period
was taken. It is also reported that the NSCN has given up the demand for
sovereignty and is ready to accept solutions within India. But so far, the
leaders of the NSCN have not made their stand public on the issue. The
Government and the NSCN have also not made it clear whether the outfit has
given up the demand for creation of greater Nagalim with inclusion of areas of
Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, which remained a cause for serious
concern among the people of these states, particularly among the people living
in the areas bordering Nagaland.
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