GPRN/NSCN, GoI extend ceasefire agreement for another year
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 25
The ceasefire between the GPRN/NSCN and the Government of India, which was due to expire on May 27, has been extended for another year. This was done following a meeting between GoI representatives and GPRN/NSCN leaders on Friday afternoon at Police Complex, Chumukedima.
The Government of India was represented by Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Shambu Singh; Ceasefire Monitoring Group Chairman, Lt Gen (retd) NK Singh; S Saha, Deputy Secretary (NE), MHA; Lt Col Sunit Sheran, DGMI; Col G Chauhan, Army HQ; Mahesh Dixit (Joint Director, IB) and Brig, P Tshering, Deputy IGAR (N).
The GPRN/NSCN delegation was led by their Ceasefire Supervisor, C Singson. It included Kilonsers and senior leaders, comprising of Jack Jimomi, Bohoto Kiba, Carlos K Zhimomi, WC Konyak and Thungkomo.
Emerging from the meeting, Shambu Singh revealed to media persons that the ceasefire between the GPRN/NSCN and GoI has been extended for another year as “years of goodwill cannot be frittered away just like that.”
Queried on whether formal talks between the GoI and GPRN/NSCN would start soon, the joint secretary, MHA, ruled out the possibility of formal talks with other Naga Political Groups for the moment, stating that the there were certain conditions agreed upon in the first ceasefire agreement between GoI and NSCN (IM).
“At a given point of time, there was some kind of understanding... written on paper”, Singh said referring to the first ceasefire agreement with the NSCN (IM) in 1997. He hinted that it would not be possible to start simultaneous peace talks.
When asked whether that meant extension of ceasefire with Naga groups was a routine and futile exercise, Singh replied that there may be various interpretations but that one also needs to look at what happened in the past. He however viewed that no particular person or group has the mandate of the people and that in the long run, the “larger objective of the people at large” should be considered.
On extension of ceasefire with the NSCN (K), which also expires on May 27, Singh said so far the NSCN (K) has not approached GoI for extension of the ceasefire. “If they approach us, definitely we will extend the ceasefire,” he added.
When asked to comment on Singh’s statement that the GoI was not likely to start formal talks with other Naga groups till the ongoing talks with the NSCN (IM) was over, GPRN/NSCN Ceasefire Supervisor, C Singson said that the GoI was to be blamed in the first place, for starting talks with the NSCN (IM), since the latter alone cannot claim to have the mandate of the people.
