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Nagaland : Rebel faction extends ceasefire

	May 02, 2005

A prominent separatist group in Nagaland and the Indian Government on April 28 extended a ceasefire by another year. The S.S. Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and senior Indian Home Ministry officials agreed to the bilateral ceasefire extension at a meeting in New Delhi.

“After deliberations for about two hours, we decided to extend the ceasefire by another year,” senior NSCN leader Kughalo Mulatonu said by telephone from New Delhi.

Anil Choudhury, Special Secretary in the Home Ministry, represented the government side, while four senior rebel leaders were present at the meeting.

The NSCN-Khaplang entered into a ceasefire with New Delhi in 2001 although the two sides are yet to begin formal peace talks.

The Central Government’s peace negotiators are holding talks with another NSCN faction headed by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in New Delhi.

The two NSCN factions are engaged in a bitter turf war in Nagaland for territorial supremacy. At least 200 militants have been killed in clashes between the two rival groups during the past five years.

“We will begin formal peace talks only after the ongoing negotiations between New Delhi and the other NSCN group headed by Swu and Muivah come to a conclusion,” Mulatonu said.

The NSCN-IM group had entered into a ceasefire with New Delhi in 1997 with the two sides holding several rounds of talks.

The NSCN-IM is demanding creation of a “Greater Nagaland” by integrating Naga inhabited parts of neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

The regional states are opposed to the NSCN’s demand.

The NSCN split into two groups in 1988 although the outfit until its division was considered as one of the most powerful and organised rebel armies in India’s northeast.

The issue between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) and the Centre focused on the ground rules of cese fire.

According to NSCN (K) general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi, we belive that the ceasefire ground rules ground rules. The Isak-Muivah faction has been accused of violating the ground rules in the wake of its attacks on camps belonging to the Khaplang group.

There has also been a sharp increase in inter-factional clashes between the two outfits in the past few months, with casualties on both sides. The clashes, concentrated mostly in Mon district of Nagaland, are said to be the NSCN (I-M)’s attempt to gain total supremacy over the rivals. Mon is a Khaplang stronghold.

The leaders of the Isak-Muivah faction said attacking the rival faction’s camps does not fall under the purview of the ground rules, which they dubbed ‘ambiguous’.



Threat to oil exploration

In a major development, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) last week warned that it will not allow oil exploration in Nagalim.

Geology and Mining Minister Khekhiho Zhimomi said the outfit’s intention was all right, though it might have used harsh language. “Their expression should not frighten anyone. This is not a naked threat but only intended for the welfare of the people. Just like the State Government, the NSCN (I-M) also worked for the people”, he said.

The outfit’s warning against exploration in ‘Nagalim’ is being seen as its aversion to oil exploration not only in Nagaland but all Naga-inhabited areas in the neighbouring states.

What has been said was the outfit’s view, but the Government’s view was that natural resources should be exploited for the welfare of the people, Zhimomi clarified.

With the deal for oil exploration almost finalised between the State and ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), the outfit’s statement has taken the issue back to square one.

A year ago, the Centre agreed to an add-on royalty for the state, the highest in the country. Nagaland enjoys special status under Article 371-A of the Constitution, wherein land and resources belong to the people.

The State Government has also had problems with landowners. These had to be resolved in order to begin exploration.

A Cabinet meeting will soon take up the issue and try to resolve the problem. Assam is carrying out exploration for oil and gas on the Assam-Nagaland boundary, which is disputed.