North-East: peace efforts may gain momentum

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, MARCH 3. The Centre appears keen to give shape to its idea of extending ceasefire to the militancy-affected States of the North-East. As a first step to evolve consensus on the ways to broadbase the ongoing three-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, met the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday evening.

Though the three Chief Ministers were stated to be ``positive'' in their response, they also expressed concern over safeguarding the interests and protecting territorial integrity of the respective States. As the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) group has observed the ceasefire in Nagaland since August 1997 and has been demanding that it should cover Naga inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the Chief Ministers have been wary of the demand to create ``Greater Nagaland.''

However, the Chief Ministers - Mr. P.K. Mahanta of Assam, Mr. Mukut Mithi of Arunachal Pradesh and Mr. Radhabinod Koijam of Manipur - have welcomed the Centre's initiative to usher in peace and development in the strife torn region.

The Manipur Chief Minister had declared a month-long ``unilateral ceasefire'' with all 17 groups operating in Manipur.

The move by the Koijam Ministry in Manipur was rejected by the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) who termed it as an attempt to hoodwink the people.

However, Mr. Koijam urged the Centre to hold peace talks with all extremist outfits operating in Manipur by declaring similar ceasefire to bring about permanent peace in the insurgency-hit State. He said that he welcomed the peace efforts but without ``affecting territorial integrity of Manipur.''

In all likelihood, the Centre may widen the scope of the NSCN(I- M) ceasefire to include more insurgent outfits in the ongoing arrangement. The Prime Minister may announce the ``extended truce'' in the North-East in the ongoing budget session of Parliament.

The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, who also attended the meeting with the Prime Minister, has already indicated the Centre's willingness to broadbase the ceasefire with the NSCN(I- M) by including two other insurgent outfits in Nagaland. Sources said that modalities of the agreement were being worked out to extend it to the Naga Federal Group and the Khaplang faction of the NSCN but added that the demand of ``Greater Nagaland'' was not under consideration.

During his recent visit to Nagaland, Mr. Advani had asserted the Centre's readiness to talk to any militant outfit which was ready to abjure the path of violence.

Observers, however, were quick to point out the ``inherent complexities'' in the North-East region, dominated by the tribals and ethnic groups. Sources also pointed out that even after three years of ceasefire agreement with the NSCN (I-M) the political dialogue had not begun. Even the Home Minister had admitted that progress towards finding the political solution to the five- decade-old Naga problem had been rather slow.

Clearly, the road to restoration of peace will be dotted with bumps and dangerous turns owing to the complexities of the region and presence of a whole lot of insurgent outfits with diverse and strong tribal leanings that would have to be tackled in an astute manner and brought together on a platform.

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