Dimapur, February 8 (MExN): The NSCN (IM), while taking strong exception to recent “violations” of the ceasefire ground rules by agencies of the Government of India (GoI), especially Chairman of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG), has warned that such actions could create fear and instability in the minds of the general public.
At a press conference held at Camp Hebron today, executive member of NSCN (IM)’s Steering Committee and Convener of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC), V.S. Atem explained that the Chairman of the CFMG is appointed with the mutual consent of both signatories to the ceasefire, meant to be a “non partial” agency to enforce the ceasefire without being in favour of the GoI. But this has not been so.
Referring to a notification received by Karaibo Chawang, Convener of NSCN (IM)’s CFMG, Chairman of the CFMG, N. George, banned the carriage of weapons (fire arms) from February 7- 23, including for identity card holders. This, the PAC Convener termed an “out and out violation” of the ceasefire ground rules. “Many elections have happened but such kind of communication has never taken place,” said Atem, adding that N. George is not the first chairman of the CFMG. Such move on part of the CFMG was mitigated through negotiation in a former year.
Members of the NSCN (IM) with identity cards, as per the ceasefire ground rules, have the right to move with arms with due intimation to the SFs throughout the year. This is unlike the ground rules of the ceasefire the GoI has signed with the other NSCNs. India conducting an election in the State has no relevance to the above, as per the NSCN (IM). “They are trying to enforce ground rules of the ceasefire filed with Khaplang’s group on us,” said Karaibo Chawang, also present at the press conference. “Equating” the NSCN (IM) to other groups has not been appreciated.
Apart from the CFMG Chairman’s “one sightedness”, the NSCN (IM) has also been riled up by the actions of the Assam Rifles (AR) lately.
In January this year, the 29 AR asked for land details of Hebron designated camp. Later that month, the 31 AR wrote to the group to dismantle their Ao region camp at New Chungtia. “We condemn such excesses and violations of the ceasefire ground rules by the AR in writing such a letter to the NSCN,” stated Atem. “If they continue to be violated like this, we fear for the fate of the ceasefire.”
The PAC Convener also condemned the CFMG for disallowing any armed guard of the NSCN (IM), including identity card holders, to accompany Isak Chishi Swu on his family visit to Chishilimi village in December, as well as the “indulgence of the CFMG office in the NIA case in the Lumphui murder case which was resolved through consent with the help of the Tangkhul Hoho and other social organizations”.
It was mentioned that the Chairman of the CFMG remained absent from office from first week of December to end of January which amounted to “abdicating his responsibility of the SFs to let them work as they wish which has undermined the ceasefire in the past. This will create fear and instability in the minds of the general public,” explained Atem.
Significantly, the NSCN (IM) condemned Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh’s statement to the GoI to “wipe out” all NSCN (IM) designated camps in Manipur. “We take exception to the silence of the GoI, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, on such reckless statements. This amounts to stoking communal tension between the Nagas and Manipuris and will be treated as a violation of the ceasefire by the constituent unit of the GoI,” Atem iterated.
Responding to questions about the seizure of arms over the past week by the Assam Rifles that they claimed to be of the NSCN (IM), Atem said that there has been no such procurement of arms. Earlier, he had stated that the NSCN (IM) had never agreed not to procure arms or recruit personnel. As long as the problem remains unsolved, he stated, Nagas have the right to equip and strengthen themselves.
As for allegations of the involvement of their functionaries in influencing elections in an assembly constituency in Mokokchung district and Dimapur, Atem responded that such grievances should be brought to the notice of the NSCN (IM) directly and it might be a “joint conspiracy” on the complainants’ part.
