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07/28/2006: "he NSCN (IM) has threatened not to extend the nine-year-old ceasefire accord beyond this month-end if New Delhi fails to modify truce ground rules. NDTV"
The NSCN (IM) has threatened not to extend the nine-year-old ceasefire accord beyond this month-end if New Delhi fails to modify truce ground rules. NDTV Correspondent Friday, July 28, 2006
(New Delhi): A week before ceasefire talks Phungthing Shimrang a senior NSCN (I-M) member left Delhi a dejected man.
Shimrang was in the capital to negotiate new ceasefire ground rules in Nagaland but he says the concerned home ministry official didn't even bother to hear him out.
"Last time we met on May 29. There are many things that have not been solved. We got a feeling that Centre is not interested," said Phungthing Shimrang, NSCN-IM Member.
In January, the NSCN (I-M) refused to extend the ceasefire only by six months and not the usual one-year-ceasefire. Precisely because they felt the Centre wasn't taking their demands seriously.
Key demands
• Integration of Naga all inhabited areas, a demand unacceptable to Manipur and Assam
• A special federal relationship with India being considered by the Centre
• A separate representation in the UN
• Joint Defence force to protect Nagaland both of which are unacceptable to the Centre
Although nine years later the Centre hasn't yet made its response very clear.
The negotiators are confident that they can win another round of ceasefire when they meet in Bangkok.
"The talks are proceeding in the right direction and we are hopeful that the ceasefire will be extended beyond July 31 ..it will take time but we will find solution," said S Regupathi, Negotiator, MoS (Home).
The Centre is hopeful that Issac Muivah will be convinced to extend the ceasefire beyond July 31. But with the recent standoff the negotiators will have a hard time convincing the Nagas continue with peace talks.
