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03/17/2009: "Indian Army under fire over Shirui and Pfutsero incident-PART III morungexpress"

Indian Army under fire over Shirui and Pfutsero incident-PART III morungexpress

Dimapur - A fact-finding team constituted to look into the working of the ceasefire in Naga areas has come down heavily on the Assam Rifles that the latter attempted to “provoke” the NSCN (IM) to break the ground rules and to “fire”. It could have led to “very serious consequences for all the people of Manipur”, the report said.
The report also claimed that the “Assam Rifles clearly broke the ceasefire ground rules in both cases (Shirui and Pfutsero)” and “this had been proved beyond doubt”. It was also stated that a section of the armed forces misled the people and ‘hid the fact’ that Shirui camp was set up with the approval of the armed forces and the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG).
Making their observations on the impact of the Shirui incident, the four-member fact finding team of eminent lawyers termed as “disturbing” the fact that the aftermath of the Shirui incident had led to ‘communal divide between the Meiteis and Nagas with the former even demanding that the NSCN (IM) be declared a terrorist organization’.
“Such an atmosphere would only lead to the justification of militarization of Manipur”, the study pointed out. It also said those in the valley who welcomed the siege of Shirui “did not fully realize the sinister role of intelligence agencies”. The study said ‘it could not understand why the Assam Rifles had taken the action and why they wanted to “provoke” the NSCN (IM) and “why they seemed to communalize the atmosphere in Manipur”’.
Interestingly many people in Shirui told the fact-finding team that the Shirui incident was in fact a direct fall-out of the Pfutsero incident. Going into the significance of the Pfutsero incident which took place in the first week of January 2009, the team, after detailed study, concluded that although the ceasefire ground rules specifically stated that each incident should be localized, the Assam Rifles “seem to be wanting to provoke the NSCN (IM)”.
“And soon after the Pfutsero incident they surrounded the NSCN council headquarters also known as Hebron camp” it stated. The team also interviewed Lalthara, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) with the latter pointing out that the Nagaland government was “concerned about the way Assam Rifles are patrolling the road leading to Hebron”.

The Additional Chief Secretary reportedly told the visiting team that the “patrolling was being done in a manner which could ‘irritate’ the NSCN cadres” and that the chief minister had also expressed his concern to the Army. The senior government official also said that “he thought that the Shirui incident was a direct fallout of the Pfutsero incident and the Assam Rifles were still angry with the fact that their officer had been disarmed even though they had admitted their mistake”. According to the study, Lalthara had tried to explain to the Assam Rifles that the Pfutsero incident was an isolated case and they should treat it like that”.
Three killed in NSCN clashes OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Itanagar, March 15: Three militants were killed in clashes between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), over the past two days in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The superintendent of police of Tirap district, Anil Kumar Shukla, today said fratricidal clashes between the two NSCN factions over the past two days resulted in the killing of two cadres of the Isak-Muivah faction and one of the Khaplang faction.
“A heavily armed group of NSCN (K) sneaked into Thinsa village where its rival, the NSCN (I-M), was holding a meeting to launch an offensive against the former group and sprayed bullets on self-styled major M. Kipo killing him and injuring some other cadres on Friday night. In the exchange of fire, one cadre of the Khaplang faction was also killed. The NSCN (K) also threatened the villagers with dire consequences if they continued to shelter and support the NSCN (I-M) cadres,” Shukla said from district headquarters Khonsa.
“Traditionally, Tirap district is a bastion of the NSCN (I-M). The Khaplang faction has a strong presence in Changlang district but it has been making efforts to establish its supremacy in Tirap district,” he said.
He said the police had information that the two groups were on a recruitment drive for the past few months but this was the first report of a killing after December.
Another police source in Tirap said skirmishes for dominance between the two factions took place in Muktowa, Longliang and Lanchen on Friday.
A middle-aged man who owed allegiance to the NSCN (I-M) was gunned down by the NSCN (K) rebels in Longliang.
A police team led by assistant superintendent of police, Ajay Kumar Ojha, visited the spot and registered a case with Khonsa police station.
Despite the deployment of 3 Dogra Regiment of the army and 19 Assam Rifles in Tirap district, the movements of two rebel factions have not slowed down adding to security concerns of the local people, who are caught in the turf war between the two factions.
Both Tirap and Changlang districts have witnessed insurgency in the form of a spillover from Nagaland since 1990.
The 70km porous border with Myanmar also provides safe passage for the rebels.
A state-level core group under the guidelines of the ministry of home affairs to co-ordinate between the administration, army and other intelligence agencies to flush out militants operating in the state was formed in December but the security forces were unable to check the insurgency.
Ulfa and the Khaplang faction of the NSCN are reportedly holding joint training sessions in the hilly interiors of Tirap district in their desperation to win the “turf war” over the NSCN (I-M).
Assam playing host to anti-insurgency plays Jorhat (Assam), ANI
Jorhat (Assam), Mar 15 (ANI): Theatre artists have staged two plays at Jorhat in Assam to spread the message of peace.
The plays, one in Assamese and the other in Hindi, are based on insurgency and other problems posing obstacles to the state's progress.
The plays focus on how the state is at a loss because of the absence of investment in a climate of insecurity and lawlessness.
"It was really touching because the play was based on violence caused by militants. The play gave the message of peace and harmony," said B. Arup, a resident.
Assam is one of seven states in the country racked by insurgency.
The state of Assam has been badly affected by armed insurgency over the last one and a half decades with various insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Dima Halim Daoga (DHD), United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN).LFA has been demanding the independence of Assam since 1979 and accuses New Delhi of exploiting the state's resources and doing little to develop the province.
The outfit has also accused non-Assamese people of plundering the state's resources and spoiling its culture.
More than 20,000 people have been killed so far in the ULFA insurgency. (ANI)
Chopper wreckage found on Atlantic Ocean floor|World[ St. John's (Canada){St. John's (Canada), Mar.15 (ANI): The damaged fuselage of a downed helicopter that claimed the lives of 17, has been found on the silt and gravel of the Atlantic Ocean floor.
Investigators said on Saturday that it was largely intact.
Cougar Helicopters owned the Sikorsky S-92. Investigators recovered various debris and parts of the chopper and personal belongings.
After wading through deep, murky waters, a remote-controlled camera confirmed they had found the fuselage, the Canadian Press reports.
Mike Cunningham, lead investigator with the Transportation Safety Board, said investigators hope that same camera will determine whether any bodies are still inside the helicopter. (ANI)
Resigned MLAs to fight for NPF in Nagaland by-polls Intopia
Kohima , All the four former Congress MLAs, resigned last month from the state assembly and joined Nagaland Peoples Front, were today nominated as consensus candidates of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland for the April 16 by-elections in four assembly constituencies.
The decision was taken at a meeting by the leaders of the alliance partners, NPF, BJP and NCP, at the party&aposs central office here yesterday, NPF Press Secretary Shilumar said.
The by-polls will be held for Tizit, Tuensang Sadar-II, Chizami and Dimapur-III Legislative Assembly Councils (LACs) along with the Parliamentary elections for which NPF nominated C M Chang as its candidate.
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress President K V Pusa said, the party, which announced K Asungba Sangtam as its candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat, would announce its nominees for assembly seats tomorrow at an NPCC meeting here.
Socialist Janata Party today declared Akhei Achumi as its candidate for the Lok Sabha poll in Nagaland.
The state Chief Electoral Officer C J Ponraj has appointed Kohima Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer S Vero as the officer-in-charge of elections in the state.

NSCN (IM) denies any hand in threats morungexpress
Dimapur- The NSCN (IM) has today assured support to the Naga Students’ Federation, in the backdrop of threats reportedly being issued by elements within some factions to officials and investigation personnel probing bogus appointments in the School Education department. The NSF had yesterday issued caution that no interference from any group would be tolerated in the matter.

The MIP of the NSCN (IM) today issued a note saying that the outfit has no hand in the entire development. The threats issued against the government officials and other involvement in the matter is only by vested individual interests, the note assured.

“While appreciating the NSF in courageously exposing the involvement of Naga national workers in issuing threats to the investigating agency into the bogus appointment of teachers under the department of school education, the NSCN/GPRN makes its position very clear that such involvement are without the knowledge of the government and therefore did for their own individual interest”, the note said.

The organization has assured to take “corrective measures” so that “similar things” do not reoccur in future. The outfit assured its support and urged the NSF to continue with its mission. It also acknowledged the role played by the NSF in eradicating malpractices “in the day-to-day functioning”.

Encouraging the NSF in playing the role of a vigilant watchdog for bringing transformative changes is the society, the NSCN (IM) has assured never to stand in the way “whenever such noble endeavor is carried on”.

Poll code not acceptable

Referring to the election poll code, the NSCN (IM) today in a press release said the ceasefire ground rules between it and the Government of India cannot be unilaterally set aside by either under any circumstances. The MIP today said NSCN (IM) does not come within the purview of the Election Commission of India and so “shall not have any overriding effect on the ceasefire ground rules by the code of conduct issued by Election Commission of India”.
The organization has nothing to do with the Indian elections and so any provision or clause contained in the mutually-agreed ceasefire ground rules cannot be held in abeyance due to conduct of the elections, the MIP said.

“The directive of the cease fire monitoring group memo No: CFMG/IM/2009-1826, dated. 6 March 2009 is in imposition and therefore not acceptable to the NSCN/GPRN”, the note added.
A vote in largest democracy at Rs 200 Agencies

New Delhi- Offering sops to gain votes is passé. A recent study claims major political parties are now offering money to the electorate to “purchase” votes. According to the study conducted by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), a non-profit research firm, in the past decade, about one-fifth of the country’s electorate were paid cash for their votes.

Using perception, experience and estimation method to arrive at a conclusion, the survey sampled 18,000 voters across the electorate in 2008 and 23,000 voters from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in 2007 across 20 Indian states Dr N Bhaskar Rao, CMS chairman, said.

The revelations in the survey, which Rao calls “the mother of all corruptions”, indicates an average 37% of the BPL families from across the country, have taken money from political parties to either cast their vote or abstain from voting in the past decade.

The CMS study states Karnataka has the highest percentage of bribed voters. While 73% of BPL families were bribed to cast their vote in 2007, 47% of the total electorate were bribed in 2008. Tamil Nadu, the state whose election manifestos flaunt sops like colour TVs for each family among other inducements, also followed the same trend. While 34% of the electorate here received money for votes in 2008, 78% of BPL families were offered cash, said the study. Rao wasn’t surprised when Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party recently announced a scheme as part of its election manifesto to give Rs 2,000 every month to BPL families in Andhra Pradesh. According to the CMS survey, a whopping 94% of BPL families were bribed in AP in 2007, while 31% of the total electorate were bribed in 2008.

“The TDP’s promise of transferring Rs 2,000 per month to the accounts of BPL families only strengthens our finding,” Rao said. The amount of bribe offered varies in every state. While some states would offer Rs200 per voter, others may offer more than Rs 1,000.

“The amount would go higher when the constituency has a two, three or even four pronged fight and each party’s candidate is wooing voters with money,” he said.

Flaws in CFGR, unclear GoI stand revealed Nagarealm.com

PFUTSERO- SHIRUI INVESTIGATION UNCOVERS EVIDENCE TO DISPROVE AR CLAIM

KOHIMA, MAR14 [EMN] : A month long fact-finding investigation by a team of lawyers at Shirui in Ukhrul, Manipur, and Pfutsero, Phek, has revealed flaws in the functioning of the Cease Fire Monitoring mechanism between the Government of India (GoI) and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM).

As also contradictions in the stand of the GoI which led to the recent unfortunate incidents between the outfit and the Security Forces. It has uncovered clear evidence of the existence of a designated camp in Manipur which had been vociferously denied by the Security Forces as well as the Manipur government. he team includes eminent rights activist Nandita Haksar, Timikha Koza, Sebastian Hongray and Edward Belho.

Briefing media persons at Hotel Japfü in Kohima on Saturday, Haksar said their investigations have found that the stand of the Security Forces did not conform to the laid down Ground Rules. Consequently, conflicting reports were fed to the media leading to claims and counter claims, she said. The abduction of an AR captain along with five jawans supposed to be on a routine patrol by NSCN-IM cadres. However, two days later DG AR Lt Gen KS Yadav regretted the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and informed the media that the same had been ‘amicably settled’.

Again from January 19 to February 2, 2009, AR forces surrounded the NSCN camp in Shirui village in Ukhrul district of Manipur. The NSCN had claimed that the camp was set up with the approval of the CFMG chairman. However, the AR was not convinced. Moreover, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had stated that in the absence of any ceasefire in the state of Manipur there was no designated camp of NSCN-IM on its soil. But the team produced a copy of a secret letter (No CFMG/IM/2007 – 1566 dated 6.2.2007) from Lt General Kulkarni (Retd) to Naveen Verma, Joint Secretary (North East) Ministry of Home, in support of the approval of the NSCN IM designated camp inside Manipur, thus clearly pointing to a contradiction in the Government of India’s stand. The approval of the camp was informed to the NSCN-IM beforehand in 2005.

The fact-finding team also met present CFMG chairman Lt Gen Mandhata Singh at Police Academy, Chumukedima, on March 10, 2009. It may be recalled that Singh had diffused a similar ugly situation near Camp Hebron in Dimapur, Nagaland. He is stated to have said that Manipur is not included in his brief as per Ministry of Home Affairs’ directives while adding that he was new and there was no briefing by the outgoing CFMG chairman, Lt Gen RV Kulkarni. He reportedly said he was not aware of the past history as his job is to monitor the present Ceasefire Ground Rules.

Presenting these findings, the team has stated that the ceasefire monitoring groups have to device better ways for effective enforcement of the ceasefire ground rules while also urging a ceasefire between different underground groups so that the inter-factional clashes are not used as a justification for either further militarization of the region or for a tool for divide and rule policy.

Recommendations of fact-finding team

1. The ceasefire monitoring mechanism be made more transparent by keeping records of the decisions of the CFMG, record of apologies made and commitments given. In addition, all guidelines, rules and regulations be signed by the parties and made available in the public domain.

2. The ceasefire be officially extended without territorial limit with an explicit cause to indicate that the extension of Ceasefire is a purely administrative measure and has no political connotations or implications.

3. Ceasefire between different underground groups be declared so that the inter-factional clashes are not used as a justification for either further militarization of the region or for a tool for divide and rule policy.

4. The ceasefire monitoring groups have to device better ways for effective enforcement of the ceasefire ground rules.

5. The media should evolve guidelines for itself so that it is not used as an instrument for counter insurgency or for spreading disinformation

Factional clash at Wokha (Page News Service)

Dimapur, March 15: Cadres of both the factions of NSCN exchanged fire at Sungkha village at around 7 a.m. Sunday, which left one NSCN (K) cadre injured, sources said.
According to NSCN (IM), tension has been building up in Wokha district after NSCN (K) boys numbering about 30 had started forcibly collecting tax for the last one-week.
On March 5, NSCN (K) cadres rounded up and searched the house of Yanbemo Patton, Raza Peyu of Lotha Region in Old Ralan. On March 13 night, the same group kidnapped Nchubomo Ovung, Raza Peyu of Lotha Region from Koro village under Wokha, who is still under their custody, the NSCN (IM) stated.
Had they positively responded to the appeal of the villagers and the public as a whole, the encounter on March 15 at Sungkha village could have been averted, an MIP release stated.
The release stated that the skepticism of the NSCN/GPRN on the seriousness of the NSCN (K) was never unfounded and it came without surprise that when NSCN (K) boys started firing upon the Naga army at Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh on March 13. Things were about to turn ugly had NSCN/GPRN higher authority not gave restraining order to the Naga Army respecting the wishes and aspiration of the people, it further stated.
A Call to return Home Nagaland Page
God, the creator of the Universe created all. All things of His creation are pure, beautiful, connective and perfect. But the runaway Lucifer impured and divided all, and the same thing is happening in the way-faring of our nation and societies. The mandated NNC had already laid straight all the foundation stones of the Naga Nation and had done all for a happy future of the Nagas. But the runaway factional leaders like Lucifer defiled the fair identity of our nation and divided our societies in many ways.
Although God, the maker of all does not physically dwell and work with men, God always watches and works with everyone and every nation through His wonderful holy spirit with all sorts of miracle according to His will, choice and purposes. Wherein we, the Nagas are one of the chosen races of the God of Israel on purpose to glorify Him and magnify His name. Thus God always loves us and nourishes our nation up to this day for His glory. Let us clearly so remember few facts once again out of countless of His mercy.
1. God has given us a blessed land with all of our needs to cheerfully serve Him without murmur.
2. We have our inherent sovereignty and freedom, the gift of God.
3. Wonderfully we did not bow down before British, the champion of the world.
4. India had tried to completely invade our country since 1954. But we have safeguarded our birth-right as a nation under the banner of NNC/FGN.
5. The so-called Naga People’s Convention(NPC) began to fight against NNC/FGN in collaboration with India the aggressor since 1960. But we made our destiny clearer by the grace of God by signing of the International Ceasefire Agreement between the Federal Government of Nagaland(FGN) and the Government of India(GoI) in 1964.
6. The so-called Revolutionary group led by some Sema leaders was formed in 1968 and fought against NNC/FGN in combining with India , but died in 1973 as it was the agent of India .
7. India conducted inhuman operation in our country from 1972-1975, but Shillong Accord was signed on 11th November, 1975 between five individual Nagas and Governor L.P. Singh, on behalf of the Government of India and brought peace and normalcy in Nagaland.
8. The so-called NSCN led by Isak-Muivah was formed in 1980 through RAW of India (See Myanmar International News, London base February, 1979) and began to fight against NNC/FGN in 1980 and continuing to this day. Besides NSCN was divided into two in 1988 and fighting is going on between them. However there is peace between NNC/FGN and NSCN-K as peace agreement was signed in 1991 and in 1995 respectively in brotherhood. Nevertheless fratricidal killing is unabated in our land. But I hope it will come to an end and our people will return to original Home.
9. When the mortal remains of Dr. A.Z. Phizo was brought Home, suddenly a rainbow appeared and welcomed him in Dimapur Airport . Thus the plane which carried the mortal remains of late Dr. A.Z. Phizo, former NNC President covered with Naga National Flag landed amidst in Dimapur Airport .
10. On 16th August, 2007, I was told in my dream that one thing would happen in the month of November, 2007 and exactly Isak and Muivah were brought to Hebron Camp in November, 2007 by India with Z-Plus full proof security and exposed their nexus.
11. Wonderfully appearing the image of Jesus on the Ceasefire Monolith Stone was also a miracle and it may be a sign of love from God.
All these wonderful survivals are by the grace of God alone. And it shows that God never forsakes the NNC/FGN and our people. But it seems our people do not know or remember all these. We have been praying and waiting for the final solution of our nation but we are not getting it so far as we do not walk on the right path and do the right thing with pure hearts. And we may continue to suffer if we do not realize to walk on the right path and do the right thing. I therefore humbly call upon all fellow Nagas to return home and gather in the original Home and march forward together towards our final victory.
Eno Lungliam, NNC Member

Three militants killed on Myanmar border OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, March 16: Troops of the Assam Rifles gunned down three militants who were trying to “sneak in” to Chandel district of Manipur from the Myanmar side of the border along with weapons.
Assam Rifles spokesperson Col. L.M. Pant said the troops gunned down the three militants near Kwatha village along the Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district at 9 last night. One lethod gun, two pistols and two Chinese hand grenades were found on the slain militants, whose identities are yet to be established.
“On getting information that some militants had crossed the international border and entered Chandel district, the troops laid multiple ambushes, resulting in the encounter,” the spokesman said.
He said the troops, after tracking down the militants, asked them to stop for frisking. However, the militants did not pay heed and instead opened fire at the troops, following which the jawans retaliated. Three militants were killed in the encounter. The encounter was an outcome of the stepped-up operations by the security forces along the border in view of Lok Sabha elections. The polls for the Outer Manipur seat will be held on April 16 while the Inner Manipur constituency will go to the hustings on April 22.
“We have stepped up security along the Manipur-Myanmar border in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The move is aimed at stopping cross-border movement of arms and militants. Despite shortage of manpower, we are doing our best to check cross-border movement of militants,” another Assam Rifles source said.
An official source said the Okram Ibobi Singh government had requested the central forces deployed in the five hill districts to step up vigil for the smooth conduct of polls.
Though 19 tribal militant groups, based in the hills, entered into a suspension of operation agreement following a tripartite pact with the Centre and the state government, they are yet to move into the designated camps, with the latter not being ready as yet.
Intelligence reports suggested that these militant groups might create trouble in the run-up and during the elections in the Outer seat, comprising the five hill districts. “Armed militants had always interfered in the poll process in these hill districts,” an intelligence source said.
In a separate encounter, police shot dead a suspected militant in Langol area of Imphal West at 8.30 last night. One 9mm pistol was recovered from him. The body has been sent to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences for identification and post-mortem. With the killing of the four, the number of militants killed by police and security forces during the five-day Yaoshang (Holi) festival, which concluded yesterday, went up to seven.
Do not politicise killings, Ibobi told (EMN
DIMAPUR: Coming down strongly on the attempts by certain sections in Manipur to politicise the killing of the Kasom Khullen SDO and his two staff members thereby fanning communal flames, various apex Tangkhul organisations have jointly apprised the Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh that if the trend continues then it would be ‘constrained to assume it as a state sponsored terrorism’.
An open letter to the CM issued by the Tangkhul bodies also stated that no killing or incident has ever been communalised and politicised in Manipur history until the killing of Dr Kishan and his two staff members.
Reminding that the indigenous people of the NE Region have been asserting their right to self-determination for several decades with the objective to ensure their economic and political rights, the letter said the response by the state to the people’s movement has been one of suppression, abuse of human right through the imposition of several draconian laws that grant impunity to all acts of violence by the state security forces resulting in loss of life and property and denial of all democratic rights of the people.
It recalled the brutal killings, arbitrary arrests and torture of innocent civilians by the state and non-state actors that has affected hundreds of homes & families in the past decades in the state of Manipur in particular and said it points to the total failure on the part of the state to protect the life and provide security to the people.
Citing some victims of the many killings and attacks over the years, including RN Hopingson, IPS, Maj Shimreingam Shaiza and Thenucho, Ex-Speaker, Nagaland, Lungnila Elizabeth, Vandana (Bishenpur) IPS, non-locals killed in Imphal, victims of landmines, Manorama Devi, hundreds of Manipuri youth gunned down by state forces and rape of Churachandpur women among others, the letter said the total lack of accountability and policy on rehabilitation and compensation to the bereaved families by the state has further created communal divide and injustice to the people.
It acknowledged the ongoing peace processes of the GoI in the region as also the peace initiatives of the state of Manipur with several armed groups for a negotiated settlement.
However, it said the present state policy on responding to the ongoing peace process has resulted in promoting communal tension, provocations, arbitrary arrests, torture and killings of innocent civilians that may lead to dislodging the hard earned peace.
It expressed serious concern that unless the state responds with positive approach to promote peaceful resolution to the people’s aspirations, violence and acts of terrorism would continue to escalate ‘which is nothing short of state terrorism’.
The letter also termed as ‘very unfortunate’ the statements of senior politician O Joy, MPP, openly politicising the recent killings of Dr Th. Kishan and his two staff members.
The letter was signed by the presidents of the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long and Tangkhul Shanao Long.
NSCN-IM not happy with CFMG poll directive
DIMAPUR: A directive issued by the CFMG requesting all the Naga outfits to refrain from carrying weapons outside their designated camps in view of the ensuing elections have drawn flak from the NSCN/GPRN.
The NSCN-IM, in a release issued by its MIP, stated that the directive was not acceptable to them as its organisation does not come under the purview of the Election Commission of India and, therefore, ‘shall not have any overriding effect on the ceasefire ground rules by the code of conduct issued by Election Commission of India’.
The NSCN/GPRN has nothing to do with the Indian elections and hence any provisions/clauses that contained in the mutually agreed ceasefire ground rules cannot be held in abeyance due to conduct of Indian elections, it added, while stressing that CF ground rules laid down between the two separate entities cannot be unilaterally set aside by either of the parties under any circumstances.
CFMG chairman Mandhata Singh, when contacted over phone, said the directive had been issued in the interest of the public. According to him, “The notice is to protect the interest of the public and ensure that free, fair and peaceful polls are conducted.”
In a separate release, the NSCN-IM, while appreciating the NSF in ‘courageously exposing the involvement of Naga national workers in issuing threats to the investigating agency into the bogus appointment of teachers under the department of school education’, sought to make it clear that such involvement are ‘without the knowledge of the government’ and carried out for ‘their own individual interest’.
Lauding the role played by the NSF ‘in eradicating the malpractices in the day to day functioning’ and urging it ‘to continue with its mission’, the outfit assured that its authority would take ‘corrective measures so that similar things do not repeat in the future’.