K. Chawang
Convener Ceasefire Monitoring Cell NSCN (IM)
The CFMG Chairman Lt. Gen (retd.) NK. Singh has conveniently interpreted and undermined the essence of Agreed CF ground rules to suit his personal interest. He finds fault only on the NSCN but justifies every action of the Assam Rifles as doing their job according to their own inputs.
His claim of having a mandate from the Ceasefire agreement has virtually let him vitiate healthy atmosphere that has been prevailing on the ground. As per Agreed Ground Rules, all cases of violations of ground rules are to be referred to Monitoring Group Meeting, so that reasons for violation are identified and steps to prevent such violations in future are suggested. On the contrary, NK. Singh accuses the NSCN of violating ground rules and takes unilateral decision without following proper mechanism and verification.
Ceasefire does not end in itself. But, it is a means to bring about negotiated settlement to the long drawn Indo-Naga political conflict. The primary responsibility of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) is to create conducive atmosphere on the ground and pave the way for successful political negotiation. The spirit of CF is objectively for resolving political issue that has lingered for decades between India and Nagas. However, the Chairman undermines political issue and deals everything from the Indian law and order perspective.
NK. Singh has acted as Indian constitutional administrative agent rather than the Chairman of Monitoring Mechanism for implementation of Agreed Ground Rules of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire. He has been writing several letters to the Convenor of CFMC/NSCN with reference to the cases IPC/Cr.PC etc. under NIA/Police summoning top NSCN functionaries including its Chairman and General Secretary. He did not even spare the Convenor of CFMC/NSCN, and ordered him to appear before the NIA against the matter which was already resolved by his predecessor, Maj. Gen (retd.) N. George and Gen VS. Atem.
The hard fact of the reality is that, the CF is bilateral which means the contending parties should work and resolve their problem amicably through negotiation. Imposition of any unilateral decision on the other party is not acceptable. The Chairman should be answerable to the Naga people on:
a. Did the Naga people ever become part of Indian Union?
b. If so, when? How? Was it by conquest, consent or by agreement? The Agreed Ground Rules are framed considering the principle of two Entities, acceptance of uniqueness of Naga history and situation, existence of GPRN as de facto government (as also declared by several prominent Indian officials.)
He has been accusing the NSCN of violating Ground Rules on the pretext of extortion against our legitimate tax, kidnapping against arrest of law defaulter, illegal detention against the imprisonment of law breaker and also alleging the NSCN of encroaching upon the Indian Judicial system against customary law of the Nagas. These are his attitudes against the reality of two Entities. To him, the Conduct of Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) are all illegal.
There are ten designated camps of NSCN duly approved in the CFMG meeting. If there is any problem relating to the designated camp, it should be discussed and resolved by CFMG. The NSCN is not in a position to accept the dictatorial decision of denotification of the designated camps. The Chairman shall be held responsible for any untoward incident affecting the fate of the ceasefire.
The NSCN is prepared to sacrifice anything for an honorable solution, peace and development. All these years we have encountered various anti-people forces internally and externally. Yet we have stood firm upholding the principle of people’s mandate. Lt. Gen (retd.) N.K. Singh is not the first Chairman of CFMG. Most of his predecessors had maintained neutrality in implementing the Agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules. However, Lt .Gen (retd.) N.K. Singh has been one-sided from day one of assuming his office, and not a single incident/problem has been resolved duly so far, and it is not expected in the days to come either.
It should be noted that the Indians were the encroachers and wagers of armed confrontations upon the Nagas which had been resisted with arms for their political rights and survival. Because of this reason, NSCN is in possession of arms for self-defense from adversaries. Having realized the futility of military means to resolve the conflict, GoI and NSCN entered into a ceasefire and ground rules were framed. The Agreed Ground Rules state that NSCN would not parade/display arms in the Towns and Villages but do not prohibit it from possession of arms.
On many occasions the NSCN had requested the concerned officials of India government to honor and apply the Agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules as the Bhagavat Gita, the Quran and the Bible. But our request has not been taken seriously. This is one of the reasons why the NSCN questions the sincerity of GoI vis-à-vis the implementation of mutually Agreed Ground Rules.
Chairman of CFMG is appointed by the Government of India in consultation with the NSCN. The Ground Rules are extraordinary laws from Indian Law and Naga Law. Chairman’s responsibility is to implement the Agreed Ground Rules in letter and spirit impartially. However, he interprets them for his convenience and sidelines the NSCN. Anything that is not resolvable in the CFMG meeting is usually referred to the Ground Rules Review Committee at Delhi which is headed by Secretary or Special Secretary of Internal Security, GoI. But, the present Chairman does not practice it for reasons best known to him.
The NSCN never dishonors the mutually Agreed Ground Rules. Whenever a ground rule is violated stringent actions are initiated upon the erring cadres. The Chairman may be reminded of the hard reality of what the Indian military generals had said about the seriousness of Indo-Naga political problem:
Lt. Gen J. M. (Johnny) Mukherjee, the former head of Eastern Command in Kolkata that supervises the army structure and operations throughout Eastern India (including the Northeast), as well as a former Chief of army staff (India), General Shankar Roy-Chowdhury, had publicly declared the need for political solutions to the Naga problem, saying that there political solutions to the Naga problem, saying that there cannot be a military resolution. The NSCN does not write anything baseless, unfounded, or misleading. Whatever is written or said is based on official documents and record, and it is available in CFMC Office for any reference.
Having understood the problem and impending danger the NSCN urges the Government of India to call NK. Singh back immediately in the interest of both the parties for smooth sailing of honorable solution. K. Chawang, Convener Ceasefire Monitoring Cell NSCN (IM)
