Ceasefire between factions formally declared by joint forum
Morung Express New
DIMAPUR | JULY 24
A path-breaking declaration announcing a ceasefire between Naga armed groups was made in Dimapur today, even as renewed calls for leaders of the different Naga national organizations to sit across the table was persistently echoed.
The joint forum of Nagaland’s gaonburas and dobashis formally declared the six-month ceasefire – beginning today – between Naga national workers at the deputy commissioner’s office complex, in the presence of Nagaland commissioner T.N. Mannen and chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Board Lt. General (Rtd.) R.V. Kulkarni, besides representatives from civil society and the Church. From among the ‘national workers’, only the NSCN (I-M) was in attendance. Participants in today’s meeting endorsed their full support to the joint forum and affirmed that the people were behind them.
The ceasefire is to be honoured on the basis of 5 resolutions that were passed at Kohima on June 6 when a mammoth gathering comprising of delegates of all 1162 villages and 11 districts of Nagaland expressed utmost concern over fratricidal killings amongst Naga brothers.Having drafted the resolutions, the Joint Forum working committee “had met senior leaders of NSCN (K), NSCN (IM) and FGN”, covering three rounds of talks including one round on November 2006.
“During our interactions with their leaders, our Joint Forum members had made it clear that our ‘Goodwill Mission’ is non-political in nature nor is it inclined toward any faction But we are unitedly interested in establishing an atmosphere of peace among the Nagas.”
Leaders of all groups of Naga national workers accepted in principle the five-point resolution and gave separate written commitments in their own language, according to the joint forum. Putting emphasis on peace as a long cherished desire of all Nagas, the forum stated, “In pursuance of these resolutions we appealed to all groups to strictly adhere by restraining from killings in all Naga inhabited areas.”
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The 5 resolutions passed by the joint forum:
1. All acts of violence among national workers are totally condemned. An appeal to shun such acts henceforth is made.
2. An appeal for peaceful co-existence amongst the different factions is made, for which understanding among themselves and conducive atmosphere amongst the different groups is advocated. And further, the joint forum resolved that in the course of carrying out implementation of these resolutions by members, if any faction or group victimizes any member of the forum, the entire GB and DB members from all over the state will unitedly take up the crime for justice from the organization.
3. To create an enabling situation, it is resolved that all factions must agree for a period of six months ceasefire between them with immediate effect and if any faction refuses to abide by this clarion call and appeal from the joint forum, then we shall not cooperate with that particular group or groups. And if any killing takes place during the currency of ceasefire, it will be investigated by a committee consisting of representatives of DBs and GBs and the guilty party will be brought to justice as per the appropriate customary law or such enacted laws as may be deemed fit
4. During the inter-factional ceasefire period, the joint forum will take the initiative to bring the top leaders from all the different groups together into a meeting under the protection of the joint forum members to thrash out their differences and to establish a harmonious atmosphere besides encouraging them to bring about peaceful approach to the Naga issues.
5. The joint forum also resolved that the ongoing ceasefire between NSCN-IM and the Government of India and NSCN-K and Government of India and their respective ground rules to strengthen the mechanism of its enforcement should be fully geared up. The joint forum appeals to the enforcing agency of the ground rules to strengthen the mechanism of its enforcement for effective implementation of the rule. The joint forum extends and appeals for full support of effective implementation.
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