The Hindu : Front Page : NSCN (I-M), Centre agree on ceasefire

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Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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NSCN (I-M), Centre agree on ceasefire

Sushanta Talukdar

DIMAPUR: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Centre on Tuesday agreed to extend the ongoing ceasefire indefinitely with effect from August 1, subject to progress in the peace talks. The 10-year-long ceasefire, renewed periodically, was to expire on Tuesday night.

After nearly four-hour-long talks at the Circuit House here, the emissary of the NSCN(I-M) leadership, Lt. Gen. (retd.) V.S. Atem, told reporters that the two sides also signed an agreement to this effect.

To meet again soon

He, however, said that there was no discussion on substantive issues and that talks primarily took into account the “Naga people’s concern for early conclusion of talks.” Mr. Atem said the two sides would meet “very shortly” to discuss other issues.

“The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with free and frank exchange of views. After reviewing the status of the talks and the ceasefire, it was decided to extend the ceasefire indefinitely, with effect from August 1, 2007, subject to progress in the talks. Both sides agreed to strengthen the monitoring mechanism to ensure that the ground situation remains conducive for continuance of the ceasefire,” said a joint press statement signed by NSCN(I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the Centre’s interlocutor in the Naga peace talks, K. Padmanabhaiah.

This was the first time the peace talks were held in Nagaland. The 22-member NSCN(I-M) delegation was led by Mr. Muivah, while the four-member team of negotiators from Delhi included Union Minister and chief political negotiator Oscar Fernandes and one official each from the Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Thousands of Naga men and women lined up on both sides of the road from near the Dimapur Municipal Market to the Circuit House — the venue of the peace talks — holding banners and placards with slogans such as “no solution, no extension of ceasefire,” “ten years of negotiation is enough,” and “stop trying our patience.” They shouted slogans when the convoy of vehicles bringing the Central team rolled past them to the venue. The rally was organised by the Naga Hoho.

Mr. Padmanabhaiah said: “It was a free and frank discussion. It is a good thing that now every time we do not have to meet just to extend the ceasefire. We will now see better days.”

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