Truce extension draws flak

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, JUNE 15. The extension of the four-year-old ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) for another year without territorial limits in Naga inhabited areas in the north-east has evoked sharp criticism from political parties in Assam and Manipur, which have blamed the Centre for rushing through it without consulting them.

The reactions, particularly in Assam and Manipur, may be ``initial after-shocks'' but in view of the apprehensions over the territorial integrity of the States and the emotional issues involved in the entire north-east, the Centre has to watch its steps.

It's assurance on upholding the territorial integrity of these States appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

So sharp was the reaction in Manipur, now under President's rule, that the Governor, Mr. Ved Marwah, spoke to the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, this morning and conveyed to him the ``strong feelings of the people of Manipur and their fears''.

Advani's assurance

Mr. Advani assured the Governor that there was no question of agreeing to anything that would in any way threaten Manipur's territorial integrity. He also told the Governor that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as laid down in its Common Minimum Programme, was committed to maintaining Manipur's territorial integrity and other north-eastern States and it would honour that commitment.

Reiterating the Government's policy to welcome the insurgent groups to cease violent activities and come to the negotiating table for a peaceful and just solution to all their problems and aspirations, Mr. Marwah appealed to the insurgent groups operating in Manipur to eschew violence and join the process of dialogue.

The Home Secretary, Mr. Kamal Pande, yesterday wrote to the Chief Secretary of Manipur. ``Though, this time, the ceasefire is without any territorial limits and not limited to Nagaland, I wish to assure you that this decision would not, in any way, affect the territorial integrity of any of the north-eastern States,'' Mr. Pande said.

Analysts pointed out that the north-eastern States are dreading that the NSCN(I-M) would someday rake up the demand for a ``Greater Nagaland'' and might use the ceasefire expansion beyond Nagaland to lend an air of legitimacy to their demand.

The agreement, reached between the Government's representative, Mr. K. Padmanabhaiah and the NSCN(I-M) leadership, Mr. T. Muivah and Mr. Isaak Chisi Swu, at Bangkok after parleys on June 13-14, talks of the agreement between ``two entities'', without mentioning any territory.

The extension without territorial limits is being seen as a major concession which the NSCN (I-M) has been able to derive from the Centre. North-east watchers feel that it would give a better bargaining power to the outfit as it would be able to project itself as almost the sole player in Nagaland before talks on substantive political issues begin.

Though the three States -- Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh -- have in the recent past come round the view that extension of the ceasefire with the NSCN(I-M) would help reduce tension and conflict in the region, their reactions are also bound to be shaped by political considerations in the region.

The Home Ministry sources said that the Naga-inhabited areas in Assam were North Cachar and Karbi Anglong; in Arunachal Pradesh, the Naga population was concentrated in Tirap and Changlang districts and, in Manipur, in Ukhrool and Senapati. The Government extracted an assurance from the NSCN(I-M) leadership that the outfit would not support other insurgent groups in the region such as the ULFA and the Bodo groups.

As the next round of talks is scheduled in the first week of August, the Centre would literally be walking on the razor's edge to build opinion in favour of the extension of the truce with the NSCN(I-M). The reasoning would be that it makes little sense to observe the ceasefire only in Nagaland and keep fighting in the other States. At the same time, the Government would need to keep vigil on the security scenario in the other neighbouring States in order to push forward the peace process.

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