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01/31/2006: "Naga truce extended by another six months"

Naga truce extended by another six months
Following is the outcome of the Talks between the GOI and NSCN.

JOINT STATEMENT Bangkok January 31,2006

Discussions were held between Government of India's Representatives and the NSCN delegation on January 28-31, 2006. As both sides recognize that there has been insufficient progress in the talks it was decided to carry the political negotiations expeditiously forward taking new initiatives.

It was also agreed to re-activate and make effective mechanisms to address all cease-fire issues including modification of Ground Rules.

In view of the need to maintain a congenial atmosphere for the political negotiations to fructify it has been mutually decided to extend the cease-fire by six months w.e.f. February 1, 2006.

Sd/- Sd/-
Th. Muivah K. Padmanabhaiah
General Secretary, Representative of the
NSCN. Government of India.
India's Naga rebels extend ceasefire by 6 months31 Jan 2006 11:21:37 GMT Source: Reuters
BANGKOK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A powerful separatist group in the eastern Indian state of Nagaland agreed on Tuesday to extend a ceasefire with the government by six months and resume peace talks soon, an Indian negotiator said.
"The ceasefire has been extended by six months," Indian negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah told Reuters after four days of talks in Bangkok.
Delegates from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M) had agreed to meet government negotiators again, but no venue had been set, he said.
"We will be meeting fairly soon," Padmanabhaiah said.
More than 20,000 people have died in fighting for the independence of Nagaland, a mainly Christian state of two million people on India's far eastern border with Myanmar.
The NSCN (I-M), which was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday, has met Indian officials on several occasions since it started a ceasefire in 1997.
But there has been little progress on the central rebel demands -- the unification of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India, something fiercely opposed by other ethnic groups in the region, and ultimately independence.
The NSCN, which split into two factions in the late 1980s, has been fighting since 1947 for the freedom of millions of Naga tribesmen living in northeast India and neighbouring Myanmar. Security analysts say peace with the Nagas is crucial to a broader peace in the northeast, seven states connected to the rest of India by a thin strip of land and home to dozens of insurgent groups.

Naga truce extended by another six months JAISHREE BALASUBRAMAINAN, BANGKOK, JAN 31 (PTI LD NAGA
Hours before its expiry, the government and Naga rebels belonging to NSCN (IM) faction today agreed on extending the 8-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland by another six months after four days of hectic negotiations.
"In view of the need to maintain the congenial atmosphere for the political negotiations to fructify, it has been mutually decided to extend the ceasefire by six months with effect from February one," said a joint statement signed by the government interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN (IM) chief negotiator T Muivah and issued after the talks betwwen the two sides here.
The two sides agreed to re-activate and make effective mechanisms to address all ceasefire issues, including modification of ground rules, it said.
Recognising that there has been insufficient progress in talks, they decided to carry the political negotiations expeditiously forward taking new initiatives to resolve the Naga problem, the statement said. The Indian side at the talks was led by Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Oscar Fernandes, aided by Padmanabhaiah, while the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) side was headed by its General Secretary Muivah. The ceasefire, brokered in 1997 and renewed periodically, was to expire at midnight tonight.
Centre, Naga rebels to extend ceasefire
Jaishree Balasubraminan in Bangkok | January 31, 2006 17:38 IST Last Updated: January 31, 2006 18:25 IST
After four days of intense negotiations, the Centre and Naga rebel leaders Tuesday agreed on extending the 8-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland by another six months.
"The two sides have decided to extend the ceasefire for another six months," Samson Jajo, a senior member of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), told PTI after the talks during which the Naga group alleged that there were peace treaty violations by the Indian armed forces.
The Indian side at the talks was led by Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Oscar Fernandes, aided by veteran negotiator K Padmanabhaiah, while the NSCN (IM) side was headed by its general secretary T Muivah.
The ceasefire, brokered in 1997 and renewed periodically, was to expire Tuesday midnight.
Nagaland ceasefire extended by six months
Bangkok: The Indian government and Nagaland's dominant separatist group Tuesday extended their ceasefire in the northeastern state by another six months until July 31.

The decision to extend the nine-year-old truce between New Delhi and the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) was taken after four days of intense negotiations.
The ceasefire was to expire Tuesday.

"The ceasefire has been extended for six months. Right now the Indian government team and our leadership are drafting a joint statement," a senior NSCN-IM leader told IANS.

Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes and New Delhi's chief peace negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah led the government in the talks with the NSCN-IM. General secretary Thuingaleng Muivah led the Naga delegation.

The Bangkok talks had run into trouble and were deadlocked since they began Saturday and were extended into an unscheduled fourth day. The rebel leadership refused to extend the ceasefire without concrete assurances from the government about meeting some of their key demands.

The NSCN, one of the oldest and most powerful of about 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, wants to create a "Greater Nagaland" by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states which have Naga populations to unite around 1.2 million Nagas.
The governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the demand for unification of Naga-dominated areas.
A team of the apex tribal council of the Nagas, the Naga Hoho, which has long been brokering peace between rival rebel factions, was here to lend support to the NSCN-IM leadership.
Among the demands put forward by the NSCN-IM were stopping security forces from allegedly aiding its rival faction headed by S.S. Khaplang and to ensure that their cadres were not targeted by security forces in other northeastern states outside Nagaland. The NSCN-IM also sought a definite timeframe for meeting their demands.
The NSCN, led by guerrilla leaders Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu who have lived in self-imposed exile mainly in Asia, agreed to a ceasefire first in 1997.

Since then, the two sides have held many rounds of talks in Bangkok and other foreign cities to end one of South Asia's longest running insurgencies.

No headway in Naga truce talks The StatesmanPress Trust of India
BANGKOK, Jan. 30. — Government and rebel Naga leaders today failed to reach an agreement on extension of the eight-year-old cease-fire in Nagaland but agreed to hold informal consultations again tomorrow when the truce expires.
Union minister Mr Oscar Fernandes, who is leading the government delegation at the talks here with NSCN(IM) leaders Mr Isaac Chisi Swu and general secretary Mr Thuingaleng Muivah, said the discussions were on and hoped for a positive result by tomorrow when the six-month extension given to the cease-fire ends.
The cease-fire, brokered in 1997, had continued to be extended by a year since then, but last year it was extended only for six months. “The discussions are on. It (outcome) can be today or it can be tomorrow,” Mr Fernades said.
Mr Samson Jajo, a senior member of the NSCN (IM) said after the third day of the marathon negotiations that the two sides would hold an informal meeting tomorrow morning.
Mr Jajo, who is the secretary of the Collective Leadership of the Naga group, did not give any details of the day-long talks.
The two sides held formal talks this morning which later spilled into an informal meeting after they failed to reach a decision. However, the day ended without any agreement being reached.
The NSCN (IM) had said yesterday that unless the government of India took “positive” steps on the Naga matter, the group saw no need to extend the cease-fire agreement. “We very, very strongly told the Indian government negotiators that unless the government of India took steps to control its armed forces we will not extend the cease-fire agreement,” NSCN (I-M) said.
The rebel group had alleged that the Indian armed forces had violated the cease-fire agreement by directly helping the rival Khaplang faction. Mr Fernandes is being aided by veteran negotiator Mr K Padmanabhaiah. The meeting to discuss the extension of the cease-fire began on Saturday.
“If we want to extend the cease-fire, the government of India has to control the violations, otherwise why should we?” Mr Jajo had said yesterday.
Rio to urge Centre to raise more Nagaland Regiment battalions Kohima | January 31, 2006 3:31:49 PM IST Webindia

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that he will approach the Defence ministry to raise more Naga Regiment battalions and to shift the headquarters of the Regiment to the state.
Mr Rio, who was flagging off the recruitment rally for the 164 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) at the local ground this morning, informed that with this battalion, the number of battalions of the Naga Regiment had reached four.
He appealed to the candidates who would be selected in this rally to work with dedication and sincerity to up-keep the name and honour of the Naga people.
Lt Gen. A S Bhaia, Quarter Master General from New Delhi, who is the 'colonel' of the Naga Regiment and popularly known as the father of the Regiment, in his speech lauded the Naga soldiers for their discipline.
Secretary of the Rajya Sainik Board Col (retd) S I Zakhalu presided over the function.
Col R K Satyan, talking to media persons after the flagging off, informed that the 164 Terrirorial Army was being raised in Ranikhet.
Altogether 630 Naga sordiers, including traders, would be selected from Nagaland for the battalion, he added.
Recruitment rallies were held in Dimapur, Phek, Wokha and Zunheboto from where 243 candidates were selected and the rest would be selected from today's and other rallies to be held at Mokokchung, Tuensang and Mon, he said. UNI AS SG PL DB1500
Ceasefire clock ticks but NSCN (IM) refuses to budge Final verdict today; Nagas set term for truce extension Morung Express News Dimapur | January 30
EVEN AS the clock began ticking into the last hours of the ceasefire deadline expiring tomorrow, the NSCN (IM) took a tough stance demanding that extension of its ceasefire with Indian security forces be “conditional” on Delhi fulfilling commitments specified in advance. According to a news-report in today’s Telegraph web edition the mood seemed to be to further cut short the period of extension.
Indian negotiators, however, told the NSCN (I-M) that if the ceasefire extension was curtailed further — say, from six months at present to three months — then that would be construed as an “insult” to the government of India,” it was stated.
Minister of state Oscar Fernandes and former Home Secretary K. Padmanabhaiah are pushing for a one-year extension of the ceasefire, claiming that doing so for only six months would do more harm than good to the NSCN (I-M).
The Indian delegates told the NSCN (I-M) negotiators, led by general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, “that a shortened extension would send the wrong signal to rival groups — they would assume all is not well with the peace process and would be encouraged to jeopardize it further. This was what happened because of the last extension of six months, they claimed”, according to the Telegraph report.
The Nagas, they said, must ask themselves whether they had gained or lost from the eight-and-a-half years of ceasefire and then take a balanced view on its extension. Muivah agreed with them but said that Delhi would have to commit to some confidence-building measures to sustain the ceasefire.
“Muivah charged the Indian government, especially the army, with encouraging the NSCN (I-M)’s rival groups in a bid to control it. Therefore, among other things, he demanded that the government make a firm commitment that it would not use any group against the NSCN (I-M) during the ceasefire”, the report continued.
If Delhi did not do so, Muivah argued, there was no point in extending the ceasefire. While the decision on the period of ceasefire will be taken tomorrow, indications are that the extension itself is almost certain, according to the report.
Meanwhile NSCN (IM) officials here in Dimapur today said Tuesday’s dialogue between the two negotiating sides would decide the fate of the ceasefire. Giving the impression that the talks were poised delicately, the outfit’s deputy home minister V Horam said the January 31 parleys would be crucial in deciding the outcome of the continuation of peace time. “The fate of the ceasefire is now very, very unpredictable,” Horam said while maintaining that NSCN supremo Thuingaleng Muivah was indeed “serious” and that a “deadlock” had evolved in the course of the talks.
Supplementing Horam’s statement, deputy minister of the NSCN (IM) wing of the ministry of information and publicity Kraibo Chawang said, “Today’s talks were inconclusive.” There is a need for another round of talks, he said.
Mention may be made that a Naga Hoho delegation led by its President Horangste Sangtam reached Bangkok last night to push forward for an extension of the Ceasefire. The Naga Hoho team reportedly met with both the NSCN (IM) and India negotiators today morning giving their views on ceasefire extension and explaining in particular to New Delhi on how it could have used the previous period more productively.
Ray of light in PM’s job package for Nagaland DONER stresses Action Plan for successful implementation Chizokho Vero Kohima | January 30
THE COMMITMENT of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to create 25,000 job opportunities in 2003 as well as for empowerment of women of Nagaland, which seemed to be a far-fetched dream, is seemingly to become a reality soon with the government taking remarkable steps through a two day workshop beginning today at the ATI Hall, Kohima.
“Today’s workshop has given us some hope that something concrete is going to finally emerge,” said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in his inaugural speech at the “Workshop on generating 25,000 employment opportunities and Empowerment of Women.”
On the other hand, Rio expressed his dismay on the slow speed of implementation of the Prime Minister’s package for creation of 25,000 job opportunities in the state.
“Beyond exchange of correspondence between the state and DONER, nothing concrete in terms of action plans for the generation of 25,000 employment opportunities and empowerment of women materialized even after a lapse of two years and three months of the announcement of the commitment by the former Prime Minister of India,” Rio regretted.
Department of North East Region (DoNER) secretary Gauri Chatterjee stressed the need to have a concrete action plan to implement the PM’s job package and further assured that DONER will always be there to play the role of facilitator.
Advocating that proper attention should be given for the successful utilization, Chatterjee hoped that the workshop would give birth to some positive results.
Chief Secretary P. Talitemjen also stressed the need to give right support at the right area and the right time.
Development Commissioner Lalhuma hoped that the workshop would ‘bear fruit’ and benefit the unemployed youth while expressing opinion that women of Nagaland would gain more employment opportunities.
Till September 2005, the total number of applicants in the live register of employment exchanges in the state is 44, 960. The government expressed its inability to provide employment to the majority of these young people who are in search of jobs for gainful employment.
Hoping that the PM’s package for creation of 25,000 job opportunities will materialize, the state government declared the years 2004 and 2005 as the years of Youth Empowerment where various activities for the youth took place.
Under various capacity building programmes, with assistance from North East Council, 790 youths were sent for training in the service Industries during the last two years out of which 740 candidates received job placements in the private sectors, both in India and abroad.
Under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund for employment generation, more than 1000 youths were assisted in starting self- employment activities during the current year alone. Further, 2800 youths have been selected for such assistance under PMRY during 2005-06. Currently, 65 graduates are undergoing Post Graduate courses in the service industry, another group of 100 graduate and post graduates are being trained in E-Education and very recently, sanctions were received from DONER to depute 25 youths for air hostess training at Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostesses at Bangalore.
During the last two years more than 1000 youth have been recruited in the Defence and Central Para Military forces.
“But these efforts amount to only scratching the surface of the iceberg of unemployment. Hence, we are anxiously waiting to see the fulfillment of the PM’s packages and hoped that this workshop will prove to be the harbinger of much awaited employment generation for our youth,” Rio said.
It may be recalled that on November 12, 2003, the Prime Minister’s office advised Secretary, DONER to set up a Task force and prepare an Action Plan for creating 25,000 employment opportunities within a period of two months. The Action Plan was to specify the year wise target of employment generation as well as sectors for employment and regional fund from the state/central plans as well as from financial institutions.
The Ministry of DONER accordingly constituted the Task Force on December 9, 2004 with the Secretary DONERS as chairperson. The state government, has in September 2004, also submitted its comments on the Draft Paper of the Task Force along with detailed proposals covering several sectors for the creation of 25,000 jobs etc.
4 persons held in separate incidents in Nagaland
Kohima | January 31, 2006 3:37:37 PM IST Webindia

Two persons were arrested by a police patrol party for illegally possessing one 9 mm country-made pistol during routine frisking this morning near DDSC Stadium. The arrested persons were identified as N Kumar Singh of Manipur and Debendra Singh of Hojai (Assam). Police said N Kumar had bought the pistol at Imphal from one Joy Singh for Rs 5000 and brought it to Dimapur on January 27 to sell.
The accused were remanded in police custody for five days. In another incident, G R P S personnel arrested two women from the 2nd class waiting room at Dimapur railway station this morning and seized 20 kg of contraband ganja from there possession. The duo was waiting to board the Kamrup Express for Guwahati. The accused, originally from Sivsagar district in Assam, were at present residing at the Kevijan Colony in Dimapur.
They revealed that the ganja was to be delivered to one Pardeep in Guwahati. A case had been registered in this connection, police said. UNI XC SG RD 1425
Assam rally for plebiscite From Anirban Bhaumik DH News Service Guwahati:

The thin separating line between peace activism and supporting the outlawed rebels’ agenda appeared blurred in Assam on Monday.

The thin separating line between peace activism and supporting the outlawed rebels’ agenda appeared blurred in Assam on Monday. A public meeting in the heart of Guwahati called for a plebiscite on the contentious issues like sovereignty of Assam and right of self-determination for its people.

The People’s Committee for Peace Initiative in Assam (PCPIA) organised the public meeting to extend support to the peace-process between the Government of India and outlawed militant outfit, ULFA. The thickly attended peace-rally was attended by eminent author Indira Raisom Goswami and other members of the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), which the outlawed ULFA constituted a few months back to facilitate the peace-process.

“The Assamese people have been deprived of the internationally recognised natural right of self-determination. The proposed talks between the Government of India and ULFA should focus on finding a justice-oriented solution without compromising on the issues of dignity and restoration of sovereignty to the people of Assam,” the peace rally resolved.

It also stated that the peace process must include a plebiscite on the issue of sovereignty and right of self-determination, which would give the people of Assam an opportunity to express their opinions in a democratic manner.

The resolutions — and also the speeches of several speakers — almost echoed what ULFA has been stating ever since it came into existence in 1979 and started pursuing an armed struggle to liberate Assam from New Delhi’s “colonial rule.”

“The Centre perhaps does not spend as much money for sending life-saving drugs to Assam, as they do for continuing the military offensives against ULFA in the State,” said Dr Goswami, a teacher in Delhi University and a key member of the PCG. She criticised the Centre and State Government for carrying on counter-insurgency operations against ULFA, even after the militant outfit expressed its willingness to start a peace-process. The PCG blamed the Centre for the “inordinate delay” in announcing the date of second meeting.

“Today’s rally proved wrong the New Delhi’s propaganda that people of Assam are not with ULFA. Had the security forces been withdrawn from the State, three crore people would have rallied behind ULFA,” eminent journalist Adip Phukan told the rally. The rally adopted a resolution criticising the State’s Governor, Ajai Singh, for questioning talks with militants.

Insurgency ULFA militant gunned down

Guwahati, DHNS: An ULFA militant was gunned down by the Army and police at Rong Chongi under the jurisdiction of Chabua Police Station in eastern Assam on Monday. Sources said that the security forces had been raiding some villages under the Chabua Police Station when the soldiers gunned down Rakesh Gohain, a militant of the ULFA’s much-dreaded 28th battalion. http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan312006/national176242006130.asp

Rally powers Ulfa sovereignty cry A STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, Jan. 30: The banned Ulfa today found a strong public voice to back its demand for the inclusion of the thorny subject of sovereignty in the agenda for the peace process.

A rally at the Judges Field in Guwahati — organised by the People’s Committee for Peace Initiative in Assam, a conglomerate of 21 organisations, ostensibly to protect the peace process from “sabotage” — turned into a platform for the speakers to back the militant group’s stand. Some went to the extent of saying that the state’s entire population was behind Ulfa.

Calling for immediate suspension of counter-insurgency operations, the organisers of the rally adopted a resolution espousing Ulfa’s demand for the inclusion of the topic of sovereignty in the talks process.

The resolution states that any discussion between Delhi and Ulfa should focus on finding a “justice-oriented solution without compromising the dignity of the people and the demand for restoration of sovereignty to them”. It also makes a case for a plebiscite that would “reflect the democratic opinions of the Assamese people”.

Except for “special invitee” Tapan Kumar Gogoi, general secretary of the All Assam Students Union, the speakers at the rally chose not to mention the Ulfa’s predilection for violence. Gogoi was the only one to publicly appeal to the militant group to shun violence.

The prime initiator of the peace process, writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami, argued for a halt to counter-insurgency operations by saying that the volume of life-saving medicines sent to the state was much less than the arms and ammunition heaped on it.

Several members of the Ulfa-constituted People’s Consultative Group (PCG) addressed the gathering.

Blurring the line between peace activism and promotion of militant causes, one of the speakers insisted that the government declare Ulfa as a “revolutionary organisation”. Another said the outfit had to take up arms to protect the rights of the people and that the “struggle of ethnic nationalities of the region is a direct outcome of a colonial administrative approach, exploitation and deprivation by the government of India”.

The rally targeted Governor Ajai Singh for remarking that negotiations with Ulfa would be an exercise in futility. An unperturbed army, however, made it clear that its offensive against Ulfa would continue.

Troops of the 4 Jat Regiment continued their operation in Jeraigaon, the native village of Ulfa chief Paresh Barua, and a unit of the Gorkha Rifles gunned down a militant at Rongshongi village in Dibrugarh district.
Manipur preparing for Parliamentary Standing Committee visit New Kerala
Imphal: Manipur government is making hectic arrangements for the visit of a 35-member Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Union Home Affairs ministry, to be led by Mrs Sushma Swaraj. Three Cabinet ministers would leave for the border town of Moreh in Chandel district today to oversee arrangements there, officials here said. They would camp there till February 4, the day the team is scheduled to visit Moreh, the officials added.

The team would tour the NE states from February 1 to 7. Officials of the Rajya Sabha secretariat and an officer of the Home Affairs ministry would accompany the team.Ten Rajya Sabha MPs, including Mr R K Dhawan, Mr Sitaram Yechury and Mr Rishang Keishing and 21 Lok Sabha MPs, including Mr L K Advani, Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Ajit Jogi, would be part of the team, the officials added.

The team will arrive at Guwahati tomorrow, leave for Arunachal Pradesh the next day and proceed to Nagaland on February 3. They will stay at Manipur on February 4 and 5, in Meghalaya on February 5 and 6 and return to Guwahati, the officials said.

The team is likely to discuss issues related to border trade, visit Manipur University, the Khuman Lampak sports complex and the RIMS here. They will also call on Manipur Governor S S Sidhu.
Minister Kheto stresses on sustainable development TheMorung Express
ZUNHEBOTO, JAN 30 (DIPR): “I have come here to ask you in what way I can help you” stated Kheto, Minister IPR and Forest at Litami old, during his tour into the interior village of Akuluto area, which will conclude on February 3. He said that a sustainable development is the only answer as Government salaried jobs cannot be provided to everyone. Sustainable development, he said was self sufficiency through entrepreneurship and farming etc as Government is pouring money into these avenues, with schemes and projects amounting to Rs. 3500 crores for North East with Nagaland’s share expected to be Rs. 500 crore.
He encouraged the villagers to work hard and get their due share from the Government and added that the DAN Government will do everything possible to uplift the people as it is the people’s Government
Earlier the Minister greeted the people and opined that 2006 is a blessed year for him and further said that all should share their problems irrespective of their affiliations. The Minister donated 4.75 Lakhs towards the village for various developmental programmes such as retaining walls, approach roads maintenance etc.
“Apart from other developmental activities, the Minister took keen interest to visit interior villages and this visit is of its first kind voluntarily undertaken by Kheto since 1969”, stated the Head GB of Litta (New) village while giving the welcome speech at the arrival of the Minister.
Speaking at Litta (New), Kheto said that he is the leader for them now, so it is his utmost prayer that peaceful atmosphere prevails for further development. The Minister lent a attentive ear to the village problems and extended help to them and donated considerable funds towards the village side drainage repair, NPF party and Sunday school Department. The Minister’s tour programme includes Izheto, Sasutsmi, Aziqami and VK town in the following days.
Truce extension proves elusive, IM refuses to budge stand
Informal talks to continue today, Fernandes keeping fingers crossed, truce expires today, IM to watch and study GoI response
Jaishree Balasubramanian

IM cadres at Hebron and Muivah talking to TSE, May 15 '05
Bangkok, Jan 30 : The Government of India and rebel Naga leaders today failed to reach an agreement on extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland but agreed to hold informal consultations again tomorrow when the truce expires.
Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who is leading the Government delegation at the talks here with NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, said the discussions were still on and hoped for a positive result by tomorrow when the six-month extension given to the ceasefire ends.
The ceasefire, brokered in 1997, had continued to be extended by a year since then, but last year it was extended only for six months.
“The discussions are on. It (outcome) can be today or it can be tomorrow,” Fernades said.
Samson Jajo, a senior member of the NSCN (IM) told PTI after the third day of the marathon negotiations that the two sides will hold an informal meeting tomorrow mor-ning.
Jajo, who is the Secretary of the Collective Leader-ship of the Naga group, did not give any details of the day-long talks.
The two sides held formal talks this morning which later spilled into an informal meeting after they failed to reach a decision. However, the day ended without any agreement being reached.
The NSCN (IM) had said yesterday that unless the Government of India took “positive” steps on the Naga issue, the group saw no need to extend the ceasefire agreement.
“We very, very strongly told the Indian Government negotiators that unless the Government of India took steps to control its armed forces we will not extend the ceasefire agreement,” NSCN (IM) said.
The rebel group had alleged that the Indian armed forces had violated the ceasefire agreement by directly helping the rival Khaplang faction.
Fernandes is being aided by veteran negotiator K Padmanabhaiah. The meeting to discuss the extension of the ceasefire began on Saturday.
“If we want to extend the ceasefire, the Government of India has to control the violations otherwise why should we,” Jajo had said yesterday. PTI
Our Staff Reporter adds from Imphal : On being contacted by The Sangai Express today evening, Deputy Kilonser of the Ministry of Information and Publicity of NSCN (IM) K Chawang said that the talk was inconclusive.
The peace talk has been going on for the last 8 years, but there has been no substantial progress, said Chawang and countered with the poser, “What is the rationale of continuing with the peace talk if no solution can be worked out?”
As an informal talk is scheduled for tomorrow, we will wait and watch the response of the Govern-ment of India, added Chawang.
President of the Naga Students' Federation, Phushika Aomi on being contacted said that their main concern is a lasting solution to the decades old Naga political problem.
“We are not really concerned whether the ceasefire is extended or not, but what we want is a lasting solution/settlement to the Naga issue,” asser-ted the student leader.
To achieve this, the GoI should be sincere, he said and added that since the final outcome of the present negotiation is not known, pending an informal dis-cussion tomorrow, no- thing much can be said at the moment.
Spokesman of ANSAM , Ng Souni echoed same the line of the NSF president and added that it is due to the lack of sincerity on the part of the Indian Govt that the peace talk has made no tangible headway though it started as way back as 1997.
Echoing the aspirations of the Naga people a huge public rally was staged at Ukhrul on January 24 demanding an early solution to the age old Naga political problem.
IM leaders hold brain storming session
NSCN(IM) leaders based in Nagaland today held an emergency meeting in the wake of three days continous discussions between the GoI and leadership of the group in Bangkok which bears no results so far.
“The leaders had a meeting where they discussed the whole issue and have taken certain decisions which would be forwarded to the leadership in Bangkok,” sources said. “The leaders feel that nine years is a long enough time to take a decision on the issue (unification of the Naga inhabitated areas),” sources from the Naga camp said. The Naga leaders said they “don't want a ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire without making any tangible progress on the key issue.”
The meeting also appreciated four former Prime Ministers, for taking keen interest on the issue and their desire for a solution. PTI
Letter to the editor of the Morung EXPRESS
BRIEF Open Letter to NSCNs
Almost everyday, I come across letters and articles published in the local dailies talking about the sovereignty or integration of Nagaland and the Nagas. One faction blames the other for everything that is wrong or going wrong in Nagaland. It’s hard to decide whom to believe. I’m just a 20 year old youth.
Like many of the youth, I don’t know the complete picture. And as the say,” A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. So I’d like to ask you some questions before deciding for myself as to whom I should follow or support. I would be grateful if you’d answer the questions given below:
1. What is your meaning of sovereignty?
2. What made you two factions go your own ways? What are your differences today?
3. What are you really fighting for? Why?
4. Are NSCN (K) and FGN different factions?
5. It has been said that a lot of your new recruits have been school drop outs who have joined your faction for personal reasons rather than to fight for Nagaland. Is this true?
6. I have also been told that once a person joins your faction, he/ she cannot leave your faction even if he/she wants to. Is this true? If so, why?
7. This question is specifically for NSCN (K). In a news article that appeared in Eastern Mirror on the 9th of Jan 2006, you have said (on Hesso Mao’s killing) that “the council had decided (in 2002) to wipe out the former DGP and his entire family for crimes and murder of its officer, Capt. Michael Angami”. Why Mr. Hesso’s family was also targeted?
8. Is complete independence i.e Nagaland as a country, anytime in the future, on your minds?
9. What will change and what will be the effect of sovereignty?
It will be much appreciated if you answer my questions in detail. It will take some of your time but I think you owe it to us Nagas to reply to my questions. Please answer as soon as possible. Theja Kaco (on email)
Stop military operations ahead of talks: ULFA mediator By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Jan 31 (IANS) Representatives of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Tuesday demanded immediate cessation of military operations and the release of some senior jailed rebel leaders ahead of next week's peace talks with the Indian government.
'The government must create a conducive atmosphere for talks by stopping military operations and releasing some senior ULFA leaders from jail so as to enable them to take part in the discussions,' Indira Goswami, a noted Assamese writer sought by ULFA to mediate with the government, told IANS here.
The outlawed ULFA in October last year nominated an 11-member team of civil society leaders, the People's Consultative Group (PCG), to begin preliminary talks with New Delhi.
The PCG is to begin the second round of talks with Indian government negotiators in New Delhi Feb 7 to prepare the ground for a bilateral ceasefire.
The first round of talks between the PCG and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was held in New Delhi Oct 26. Singh later said he was ready to discuss 'all issues relating to the ULFA'.
'In next week's talks we are going to discuss major issues like halting military operations, releasing jailed leaders, and also to find out what had happened to some of the missing ULFA members after the Bhutan operations in 2003,' said Goswami, who is leading the PCG in the talks.
At least six top ULFA leaders, including vice president Pradip Gogoi, are lodged in different jails in Assam. The ULFA in a statement recently ruled out holding direct peace talks with New Delhi unless the government released some of its senior leaders.
At least 30 influential organisations, including student groups and tribal communities, have also appealed to both the ULFA and New Delhi to resolve the dragging insurgency problem through negotiations.
'Violence is no answer to any problem and the government must also respect the sentiments of the people by stopping all forms of army operations to create a climate for talks and so should the ULFA shun the path of violence,' said Tapan Kumar Gogoi, general secretary of the All Assam Students' Union.
The demand for cessation of military offensive has gained momentum with the army launching a massive operation at Jeraigaon, the ancestral village of ULFA chief Paresh Baruah in eastern Assam.
The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979 with the group blamed by police for a wave of bombings ahead of Republic Day Jan 26. More than 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam since the ULFA's inception in 1979.

ULFA talks: Govt urged to include sovereignty issue By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Jan 30 – A peace rally organized by the People’s Committee for Peace Initiative at the Judges’ Field here today, expressed the view that the issue of sovereignty should be discussed with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for an amicable and lasting political solution to the problems. The rally, organized to mobilize public opinion in favour of restoration of peace in the State, called upon the Government of India to expedite the peace process for an honourable and lasting solution to the problems. The participants were of the view that the operations against the ULFA should be suspended for creating a congenial atmosphere for talks between the Government and the ULFA.

The rally condemned the recent statement of Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh on the issue of talks and observed that such statements from the constitutional head of the State might affect the peace process. The rally called upon the highest constitutional head of the country to censure the Governor for his statements at a time when the peace process is on. It may be mentioned here that in an informal chat with media persons on the eve of the Republic Day celebrations, the Governor expressed the view that there was nothing to discuss with the ULFA.

The rally further opined that the ethnic groups of people of the State are feeling deprived because of the colonial attitude of the Government of India and meaningful autonomy has not been given to the ethnic groups. The rally was of the view that the problems faced by the ethnic groups should figure in the future meetings of the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) and the Government and also during the talks with the ULFA.

It may be mentioned here that the ULFA has been demanding that the issue of sovereignty should be the core issue for talks, and though the Prime Minister, in the first meeting with the PCG, assured that the Government was ready to talk on all issues, he did not spell out whether the Government would be in a position to discuss sovereignty. The second round of talks between the Government of India and the PCG will be held on February 7.

Earlier, addressing the rally, the prime mover of the peace initiative Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami repeatedly stressed the importance of lasting peace for the overall uplift of the region. Reasoning that peace was the fundamental requisite for developmental activities to take root, she said that all the stakeholders in the peace process must understand the value of permanent peace.

She was of the view that that Assam was witnessing a situation where the number of people killed in violence was shocking. All concerned must encourage the peace process to reverse that trend.

Addressing the rally, former Vice Chancellor of the Gauhati University, Dr Deba Prasad Barooah, one of the senior political scientists of the region said that there was no issue that cannot be discussed in the negotiating table, including the issue of sovereignty.

Referring to the role of a section that was trying to derail the peace process, he urged the people to be aware of those and thwart their efforts. In this context, he mentioned that there was a great need for the peace initiative of the PCG to go ahead.

Further, he noted that the people of Assam had a right over their resources. Any political dispensation in power should ensure that the region’s people benefited from the use of their resource base.