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Why talk with a banned outfit, asks Muivah's NSCN

Nitin Gogoi in Guwahati

With the peace process in Nagaland heading nowhere even after three years of a ceasefire, the Issac Muivah faction of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland has started chafing.

V Horam, secretary, information and publicity of the NSCN-IM, decried the Centre's decision to continue with the 'unlawful organisation' status of the outfit even as both parties are engaged in political talks to find an honourable and lasting solution. Horam said the decision had spread ''unnecessary panic in the minds of the general public and caused apprehension among the Indian Armed Forces'' and the Naga army.

"We are aware that the declaration is not only a periodical extension of the ban slammed against the NSCN but is aimed at dislodging the peace process and undermining the fact that successive prime ministers of India and their representatives had held many rounds of talks... The current peace process has also been officially approved and endorsed by both Houses of the Indian Parliament and all Indian national political parties," Horam said.

He said the "double standard dealing" and "contradictory approach" of offering an olive branch on one hand and "spewing of venom" on the other, manifest between the Indian Prime Minister's Office and the home ministry. Horam was particularly critical of the joint secretary in the home ministry, G K Pillai, who made the declaration.

A reason why the NSCN is perhaps unhappy with the Union home ministry is that on Monday, it announced a new set of rules for the ceasefire in Nagaland. Under pressure from north-eastern states, the Centre revised the ground rules for the ceasefire agreement with the NSCN-IM and stipulated a new set of clauses aimed at checking illegal activities of the Naga outfit.

A new clause that is likely to provide some respite to the insurgency-prone neighbouring states like Assam and Manipur is that the NSCN-IM would not provide a safe haven to militants belonging to other underground outfits in their designated camps. "It is mutually agreed that no safe haven or sanctuary or assistance to any armed group or element will be provided by anyone," a spokesman for the ministry of home affairs said. The new set of ground rules was finalised at a meeting with the NSCN-IM leaders led by its self-styled finance minister, V S Atem last Saturday.

A significant addition is the clause relating to NSCN-IM targeting civilians in Nagaland and forcible collection of money from businessmen, and government servants and imposition of taxes. The concern that forcible collection of money on essential supplies and intimidation of individuals including government officials was taking place, was denied by the NSCN-IM. "However, in the interest of promoting the peace process, the NSCN-IM representatives agreed that the activities would be prevented," the spokesman said.

The NSCN-IM also agreed not to target civilians, besides agreeing not to resort to the blockade of roads and communication, disrupt economic or developmental activities as well as essential services, the spokesman said. The Naga outfit has been also restricted from undertaking forced recruitment in the region. Although the NSCN-IM denied having recruited cadres, it agreed to discuss the issue when any specific complaints were lodged.

The Centre has also sought to restrict the movement of armed NSCN-IM cadres by asking the outfit to notify it about all its camps. The NSCN will notify a list of all its camps to the ceasefire monitoring group, which after due consultation, will declare them designated camps. The outfit has been restrained from parading in uniforms with arms in populated areas and public places, transport and highways.

The Union Government agreed not to conduct any offensive against the outfit, though it would be free to conduct patrolling within a km of the designated camps. Both sides also agreed to refer all cases of violation of ceasefire ground rules to the CFMG. For implementation of the ground rules it was agreed that modalities will be monitored by a group comprising representatives of NSCN, NGOs and the Centre.

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