Naga underground outfit agrees to ceasefire
Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on Friday announced that an agreement
had been reached with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isa-Muivah) for a ceasefire in Nagaland.
Making a suo moto statement in both the houses of Parliament, Gujral
said the ceasefire would come into force for three months from
August 1. In talks with the NSCN (IM), a ceasefire had been agreed upon
followed by talks at the political level.
The government was also in touch with the other insurgent groups which
had promised to suspend their activities, Gujral said.
Gujral said the fratricidal confrontations amongst the
various Naga groups and the state authorities have led to a loss
of life, seriously disturbed the public order, and thwarted the
economic development of the state. He added that the state's people
are fed up with the violence and yearn for peace.
Soon after assuming office, the prime minister said he had
visited Nagaland and other states in the North-East. "I had
reiterated the government's willingness to hold talks without
any prior conditions with the underground elements."
UNI
|