EMN
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 5
THE NSCN-IM today cautioned that unless the ceasefire area coverage is clarified there is going to be a serious problem. The outfit has issued the warning in view of the alleged “repeated and unprovoked statements on the ceasefire area coverage” in the current peace process between the government of India and the NSCN by the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Chairman Lt. Gen (rtd.) NK Singh, Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh and Home Minister Gaikhangam.
Stating that it is utterly shocked at the audacity of such officer as Gen (rtd.) NK Singh to show public contempt of the commitment of Indian prime ministers on ceasefire area coverage, the NSCN-IM said nothing can be more shocking than such rashness of disrespect to the bilateral agreement of the government of India and the NSCN on ceasefire made on June 14, 2001 in Bangkok by the person who has been appointed to effectively implement ceasefire as a Chairman.
“It will do well to remind General (Rtd) NK Singh that this joint agreement was agreed upon officially and it states that “the cease-fire agreement is between the Government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits”, the NSCN/GPRN in a release issued by its MIP said. The NSCN-IM also reiterated that there is no official and bilateral agreement which shows that the three words “without territorial limits” have been “deleted” or “non-existent” as wildly claimed by Gen (rtd.) NK Singh.
Taking a serious view and strong exception to what it called irresponsible statement of Lt. Gen (rtd.) NK Singh that “cease-fire with the NSCN does not extend outside Nagaland”, the NSCN-IM sought o know whether he means that fighting should start in the present state of Manipur or elsewhere. The unchecked statements by government of India officials appointed to monitor the effective implementation of ceasefire will surely lead to escalation of fighting between the forces of the government of India and the NSCN, the release said.
Stating that for the past 17 years since the beginning of ceasefire in 1997 it earnestly given its sincere efforts at working out an amicable political settlement acceptable to both the parties, the NSCN-IM said it has high regards for the commitments given by India’s Prime Ministers to resolve the Indo-Naga issue politically and through peaceful means.
“However, today if we have to go by the statements of General (Rtd) NK Singh, Mr. Ibobi and Mr. Gaikhangam then, are we to conclude that fighting have been licensed between the forces of the NSCN and the GoI?” it said..
The NSCN/GPRN further condemned the immature and reckless self-style statement of General (Rtd) NK Singh that the three words were “non-existent”. Questioning the mandate of such utterance, the NSCN-IM asked whether he is ignorant of the 17 years of ceasefire that has been in principle observed by both the parties universally.
Considering the patience it has exercised, the outfit questioned does the position taken by people like Gen (Rtd) NK Singh imply that fighting should start outside the present Nagaland state. “And if our patience is interpreted as a sign of weakness the constant extreme provocation from such persons and the state forces will compel the NSCN to take the extreme steps,” the NSCN-IM warned while also stating if fighting starts between the forces of the government of India and the NSCN on account of such irresponsible statements, the government of India and its negligent officials shall be held solely responsible.
The NSCN-IM stressed that it is time for the government of India to give a clear cut clarification on the issue of ceasefire coverage as agreed upon in the June 14, 2001 Bangkok Agreement which states that “the cease-fire agreement is between the Government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits” in order to prevent recurrence of conflict and also to avert the damaging ramifications it will have on the current Indo-Naga peace process.
In order to jog the memories of General (Rtd) NK Singh and others, the Prime Minister of India, A.B. Vajpayee clarified at Osaka, Japan that, “wherever there is fighting, there is cease-fire”, the NSCN-IM said adding that this statement has been given with the best of intention to avoid unwanted circumstances.
