CEASEFIRE OF CONVENIENCE

CEASE FIRE OF CONVENIENCE
Naga militancy is the oldest in the North East Region (NeR) of our nation. It can also be called the mother group for all insurgencies in the region. NSCN (IM) was first to sign a cease fire agreement with GoI in 1997 followed by NSCN (K) in 2001. It means that these groups need to adhere to certain ground rules called ceasefire ground rules (CFGR) to ensure peace prosperity & progress in the state. This prohibits the group signing the agreement to train other groups, not to have nexus with other group, not to not go to populated areas with arms, not to extort etc.
Recent news of arrest of ANLA commander John Toppo and his confession to Assam Police betrays the spirit of CFGR. He said that he and 20 more cadres of his outfit were taking shelter in NSCN camp in Dimapur. There may be more such smaller groups who depend on big brother for; training, arms and explosive or act as couriers for NSCN (IM) for a consideration. Nexus of the outfit with smaller groups in NC hills, Karbi Anglong and Manipur to spread its area of influence is well known. Absence of this nexus would have saved innocent lives as well as lives of youth (young cadres) who have died being part of violence. Recent reports of crime graph going up in Dimapur cannot be taken lightly. May be it also has some patronage of the outfit; not for free but for consideration. It is surprising that home minister of the state during pre Christmas speech (23 Dec 08) described rampant extortions and intimidations to business community as ‘normal crimes’. It is the same state where Chief Minister during the budget speech (2006) had said, “It is not possible for any government to prevent extortion completely”. Kidnapping and killing of businessmen for not meeting the extortion demand is frequent news in the local media. Will this be called normal crime?
Holding of LPG trucks for not meeting the demands of paying Godown tax of Rs 15 lakhs is another violation of CFGR. This all started in Dec 08 and ended temporarily in end Dec after assurance by Chief Minister of Manipur that agreement with group has been arrived at. But the Manipur is going without supply of LPG after trucks were forced to return from Maram by armed cadres for not meeting the demand. By what yardstick will this be called a normal crime? Is depriving families and children of normal conveniences of life a part of CFGR? If the group says it is fighting for well being of Nagas? Are the Nagas not staying in Manipur?
In fact the precondition (by honorable Prime Minister) of laying down arms by the Pro Talk ULFA group before talking should have been set for NSCN as well as other groups. The arms held by the groups are used to threaten the helpless locals and also arm twist the govt with a threat that the group would take up arms again if demands are not met. There are number of cases where the cadres have been chased out by the locals for disruption of peace and some of them lynched as well. The outfit also blames the state security forces for violating the CFGR not realizing how much they do.
As per SATP portal Nagaland still stands third in the number of insurgency related fatalities in NeR i.e. 145 out of total 1057 that is behind Assam (372) with Manipur (496) in the lead. It is pertinent to mention that Nagaland witnessed more number of causalities in 2008 compared to 2007 (108) and 2006 (92). The inference is that violence had been on the rise in the state for past three years despite ceasefire in force. This is all due to interfactional clashes where collateral damage in terms of life and property also takes place. There is hoarse public outcry in favour of peace. With this attitude it is evident the outfit is not for Nagas but for its own selfish ends enjoying the cease fire that suits.

Geoffery
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