Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 1
As agreed upon at the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Cell level on April 30, cadres of the NSCN (IM) have vacated their camp near Sihai Khunou village in Ukhrul district (Manipur) sometime between the night of April 30 and morning of May 1.
The NSCN (IM) and Assam Rifles were involved in a standoff after the latter surrounded an ‘undesignated camp’ of the former on April 26 in an attempt to push the cadres out of the camp. As the Indian military presence increased manifold in the area, the intervention of the Naga civil society led to an eventual agreement at the level of the CFMG/CFMC that both the sides will back off simultaneously.
“NSCN cadres have vacated the camp as per instructions from higher ups but Assam Rifles personnel are still there,” said Tuisem Kamkara, Vice President of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) who stayed in the village to monitor the situation till May 1 afternoon.
The Assam Rifles B. Range (10 Sector) stayed back to enter the vacant NSCN (IM) camp at around 8:00 am, Wednesday. They are said to have combed the camp as well as the surrounding area and left the camp site only at around 3:00 pm. The AR were accompanied by one village authority and two village youth and did not destroy the camp structures.
The AR continued to stay in the village long after civil society leaders had left. If it was for a display of arms on the local playground over the past few days, they were reported to be holding a “medical camp” on Wednesday.
“Hopefully they will leave the village tonight,” said Kamkara on Wednesday evening.
‘Orchestrated protest rally’
Meanwhile, a press release from the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing), Government of India, alleged that the “protest rallies” were “orchestrated” by the NSCN (IM) “by inciting tribal sentiments against Assam Rifles, who acted with great restraint while only enforcing the Ceasefire Ground Rules.”
“We regret that they think we were instigated by the NSCN (IM),” said Veronica Zingkhai, President of the Tangkhul Shanao Long, who was part of the peace rally organizing team. “We repeatedly told them that the peace rally was to show solidarity to both sides, NSCN (IM) and AR, and to ensure that both remain faithful to the Indo-Naga ceasefire and peace talks.”
President of TNL, Hopingson Shimray, said, “This is absolutely wrong,” asking, “What would have been the result if we were not there?”
“When the standoff between the two sides had already started with a likelihood of armed confrontation, which could lead to ceasefire breakdown, it is the concern of the civil society and public who have been suffering due to the Indo-Naga conflict. The civil society has to take the initiative to avoid armed confrontation at any cost,” he maintained.
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) had reached the spot of confrontation on April 27 and engaged with both the AR and the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell of the NSCN (IM). The CSOs kept up their engagement, also with civilians of the area, that concluded with the peace rally on Tuesday.
“With the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in place, we are apprehensive of any army operation that will start if the ceasefire breaks down. It does not matter who defeats whom in such armed confrontations but we had to intervene so that the public does not have to bear the brunt,” said the TNL President. He reminded that even in the past, such instances had occurred between the NSCN (IM) and AR in Ukhrul district that had been diffused by the intervention of the CSOs. “They should recognize that.”
SFs were ‘extremely careful’
The PIB (Defence) in its press release maintained that “occupation of such a camp itself violates the spirit of Ceasefire Agreement.”
“Once detected by the Security Forces, the NSCN (IM) leadership was given a reasonable time to vacate the camp, which they failed to do thereby causing much hardship to the local populace. The attempt by the Group to push the Security Forces to use force was responded with great restraint thereby ensuring that the issue did not escalate,” it stated.
Further, the press release from Col. C. Konwer stated, “the Security Forces have been extremely careful not to escalate inspite of provocation from NSCN (IM) and approached the Chairman CFMG though he has no mandate beyond Nagaland. Using the good offices of Chairman CFMG and civil society organisations, it was ensured that the camp is vacated by NSCN (IM) in conformity with the Ceasefire Ground Rules.”
Advising NSCN (IM) to “follow Ceasefire Ground Rules in letter and spirit and not take actions that will jeopardise the final agreement and disrupt normal life of common citizens,” the press release reiterated, “The action of the Group has also resulted in creating discontent amongst other tribal organisations and people of the State who have expressed their displeasure on such blatant violation of existing agreement and disruption of normal life.”
