A ceasefire and protests

The Central government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) agree to extend the four-year-old ceasefire by one year and, notwithstanding protests from other northeastern States, to expand its scope to all Naga-inhabited areas of the region.

ON June 14, the Central government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) formally agreed to extend the four-year-old ceasefire and to expand its scope to all Naga-inhabited areas in northeastern India besides Nagaland. The government said in a statement that the ceasefire would have "no territorial limits in terms of its implementation". The decision was taken after two days of talks, on June 13 and 14, between the Centre's interlocutor, K. Padmanabhaiah, and NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah in Bangkok. Top NSCN(I-M) leader-in-exile Isaac Chisi Swu also participated in the parleys.

Briefing mediapersons about the talks, Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande said that the NSCN(-M) agreed "not to support any other insurgent group" in the northeast and abide by the terms and conditions of the ceasefire agreement. In a joint statement, the Centre and the underground outfit said that they agreed to extend the ceasefire by one year with effect from August 1 (the current ceasefire period expires on July 31) and to abide by the ground rules (revised on January 13) in "letter and spirit". Both sides expressed the hope that talks on more substantive issues would move ahead at a faster pace. The next round of talks will be in July end or early August.

After signing the accord, Padmanabhaiah said: "It has been agreed that the area of the ceasefire has nothing to do with and has no bearing on any territorial issues. The purpose of the ceasefire is to usher in peace as a peaceful atmosphere is necessary for the dialogue to proceed smoothly and to succeed." Informed sources said that during the talks, ground rules were made more stringent and the new rules were accepted by the NSCN(I-M). These pertained to the movement of insurgents, the carrying of arms by them, the issue of identity cards by the government to selected people, the breaking of laws, extortion and highway hold-ups.

The governments of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, all neighbours of Nagaland, were from the outset against extending the area covered by the ceasefire beyond Nagaland. This was mainly because they feared that NSCN(I-M) activists would use the opportunity for criminal activities against the civilian population in their respective territories. The Assam government, in particular, is apprehensive about the NSCN(I-M) stepping up its help to militant outfits such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFD). In a statement released to the press, the Assam government said: " The Centre has taken the decision without taking into consideration the views of the State government. This unilateral decision may result in escalation of insurgent activities within the State of Assam."

The NSCN(I-M) had recently served an ultimatum saying it would break the four-year-old ceasefire agreement if its demand to expand the ceasefire jurisdiction to all Naga-inhabited areas contiguous with Nagaland was not met. The States adjoining Nagaland think that this demand was a step towards the realisation of a "greater Nagaland" comprising areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya. Even the Centre was initially hesitant to expand the ceasefire area because it felt that such a move would be perceived as an acceptance of the NSCN(I-M)'s demand for a "greater Nagaland". Interestingly, the Centre's acceptance of the demand now vindicates the stand of its former interlocutor, Swaraj Kaushal. Kaushal had resigned after accusing Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of not honouring the commitment made to the NSCN(I-M) that the ceasefire would be made applicable to all Naga-inhabited areas.

Before leaving for Delhi on June 15, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told Frontline that he was opposed to the Centre-NSCN(I-M) truce. Gogoi said that he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister.

Assam's concern about the agreement increased after the ambush of Assam Rifles personnel by Naga militants on June 13. Informed sources said that the security forces feared more violence "now that Naga rebels are free to move within Assam". Referring to Muivah's reported statement in Bangkok that the Nagas "only want 1,20,000 sq km of land, which belong to Nagas", these sources said it indicated that the outfit was serious about its demand for a "greater Nagaland".

Before Manipur was brought under President's Rule on June 3, the Samata Party-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government headed by Radhabinod Koijam had passed two resolutions in the Assembly opposing the extension of the Centre-NSCN(I-M) ceasefire to Manipur. A former Minister in the Koijam government told Frontline that the ceasefire extension was a direct threat to Manipur's territorial integrity.

Since 1997, the ceasefire has been extended several times. However, peace has remained elusive, mainly because no similar agreement was arrived at between the government and other underground rival groups that are the rivals of the NSCN(I-M), and frequent violation of the truce.