Continuation of CF in GoI, NSCN-IM hands: Rio
Karaiba Chawang
December 11
KOHIMA (MExN): In a move that could well put the NSCN-IM leadership under pressure to salvage the eight year old ceasefire, reliable sources revealed that the Union Home Ministry in its meeting held last week, which was attended by Prime Minister’s interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah, Defence Secretary and Home Secretary left the option open to the NSCN-IM to decide whether the current cease fire should be extended for another period.
This decision of the government was in response to the NSCN-IM threat that they will back out from the ongoing truce if the former failed to come with something concrete and visible regarding the eight year old peace process.
The ongoing six months ceasefire, which is in the 7th term, will expire on January 31, 2006. The next round of talks at Bangkok slated for December 16 is considered to be extremely crucial with similar pressure being mounted on the government of India to take concrete and visible steps on the unification of Naga territories, a key demand of the NSCN (IM) in arriving at a political settlement.
The NSCN has been particularly aggressive having stated clearly that it will carry on with the ceasefire only if the demand of uniting Naga areas is granted by the government of India. It has accused the government of India of using dilly-dallying tactics on the issue and extending the truce without results.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today put the onus on the Government of India and NSCN-IM to decide on whether or not to extend the ongoing truce for another term and made it clear that the State government was helpless and could not do anything to prevent the eight year old ceasefire from being abrogated.
Rio however said that if the ceasefire breaks, the state has to be prepared for any eventuality. “We are only a facilitator. It is up to them”, Rio asserted briefing media persons here at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
NGOs, civil societies and the general Naga public have demonstrated their unconditional desire for peace through various ways and means, however, if there can not be any meeting point for the government of India and the NSCN-IM, then the state government is helpless as we are only the facilitators, Rio said.
Former Chief Minister SC Jamir also said on Friday that no “tangible” results have been produced in the eight years of peace talks.
Rio when asked about S.C. Jamir’s claim that he is the man behind the introduction of truce between GOI and NSCN-IM, simply quipped that “it happened during his time and no one can deny that”.
