Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 30
MLA & NPF Legislature Party leader Kuzholiizo (Azo) Nienu on Thursday said that ceasefire has turned into a license for threat and intimidate, kidnapping, extortion, multiple taxation & killing.
“All such nefarious activities are happening right in-front of our eyes under the guise of ceasefire, which includes mushrooming or groups, faction,” said Azo while addressing the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session on August 29 on matter of urgent public importance pertaining to “Ceasefire and Law and Order situation in the state.”
He, then opined that Nagas will be better off without ceasefire.
“My first question is do the state really need Ceasefire? Time has come for us to seriously ponder on this issue,” Azo said in his statement. “For how long can we as mandated leaders remain a silent spectator and for how many times shall we allow them to challenge the rule of law,” he remarked.
He said that it is time the state needs to seriously ponder as to whether ceasefire should be extended or not if at all ceasefire needs to be extended.
He felt that the ceasefire ground rules need to be reviewed immediately “so that the current ground situation and the measures to control the violations can be incorporated and rule of law be enforced.”
Stating that the ceasefire agreements signed with the 5 groups as of now do not have any sustenance allowance or any other mechanism for compensation to the armed/ civilian cadres of these groups, he suggested that “the Government of India should provide a minimum monthly sustenance allowance to the members of the group which are in ceasefire along with monthly ration, so that these cadres do not go around extorting from general public and creating law and order problem.”
“Instead of having just one person as a Chairman of the CFMG/CFMB, it should be comprised of a regular 3 members committee/ commission comprising of Army, Police and a Civilian person. Ceasefire committee should also be within the control of the State Government,” he said.
He also stressed on the need to immediately remove all individual ceasefire offices from Dimapur, and instead have a single building/ structure, ideally based at Kohima should be created for proper and smooth functioning, wherein the ceasefire chairman/ committee and its staff and all ceasefire supervisory committees of all groups can be housed.”
This would help in better coordination and quick disposal of any Ceasefire Violations, he said.
The security to this building/ structure can be provided by Nagaland Police / AR and logistical expenditure can be borne by the Government of India under SRE (Security Related Expenditure) a Scheme under MHA, he said.
“All such groups which are not in any ceasefire agreement with Government of India needs to be dealt strictly and as per the law or such outfits needs to be banned,” Azo said.
He said that members of all such groups which are not in any ceasefire agreement, should not be part of NNPG board/group.
He also said that the present 25/26 factions/groups need to stop issuing parallel orders or directives to the general public. “The role of the State Government should be crystal clear. As of now it is full of contradictions, paradoxes and last but not the least, rule of law need to be enforced,” Azo added.
