The Centre on Monday decided to extend the ban imposed on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang [NSCN-K)] along with all its factions, wings and front organisations for five more years due to its involvement in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The Nagaland cabinet has decided to meet both the NSCN-IM and the Government of India to push for a resolution to the Naga political dialogue. This comes after the NSCN-IM threatened to return to the jungles due to delays in the resolution, and demanded third-party intervention. The Nagaland cabinet will meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to press for expediting the negotiations. The NSCN-IM has accused the Centre of refusing to honour key provisions of the Framework Agreement, specifically the recognition of the "Naga national flag and constitution." The state cabinet is also scheduled to meet with the NSCN-IM leadership before their trip to Delhi.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, a guerilla outfit headed by its self-styled chairman S S Khaplang, has dictated the Indian and foreign oil companies engaged in oil extraction and fresh exploration work on the soil of Nagaland, "to stop all activities forthwith or face the consequences."
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on Wednesday discussed the situation in Nagaland with Governor Nikhil Kumar and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the wake of Manipur government opposing National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah leader T Muivah's visit to his village.
A coalition government, led by National People's Party leader and outgoing chief minister Conrad Sangma, will be sworn-in on Tuesday morning in Meghalaya, while an all-party government, led by Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP's) Neiphiu Rio will take oath later in the day in Nagaland.
A delegation of the NSCN-IM is in the national capital to hold talks on contentious issues including the possibility of an interim government if both sides agree to settle various pending issues.
Even as all the sixty legislators from Nagaland met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday to mount pressure for an early solution to the seven decades old Naga imbroglio, the Khole-Kitovi faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland has expressed strong opposition to any "secret pact" with the NSCN-Isak Muivah faction without taking "NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) into confidence."
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday said his government will continue to work for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state.
Security measures have been beefed up around NSCN (IM) camp at Hebron, near Dimapur, where the two leaders -- chairman Issac Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah -- would be staying, official sources said.
A purported video of the incident showed a discussion between the two sides in which the paramilitary personnel claimed that they had lost their way.
Official sources said cadres of both factions of NSCN were engaged in a fierce gun battle from 0430 hours resulting in the death of at least 12 NSCN-K cadres. On getting information, officials of the district administration rushed to the area, but could not reach the spot due to heave firing which took place at a teak plantation between the Kelhozhe and Seithekima villages.
The Isak-Muivah and Khaplang groups of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland have rejected the ban imposed by the Ceasefire Monitoring Group on the movement of their cadres with arms and ammunitions till the February 23 election is over in the state.
The Naga rebel group is furious over the 'Centre's attempt to neutralise it in collusion with its rival faction -- NSCN (Isak-Muivah)'.
Major differences among different factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, NSCN(K) and NNC have come out into the open over the issue of NSCN (IM) general secretary Th. Muivah's extensive tour in Nagaland and his 'style of functioning.' Muivah is currently visiting districts of Nagaland and both the state police and the Central paramilitary forces are manning his security affairs besides, his trusted cadres.
The Centre on Monday extended the ceasefire agreements with three insurgent groups of Nagaland for one more year till April next year.
"We had very good but tough discussions. Both sides have agreed to extend the ceasefire by another year," Centre's emissary K Padmanabhaiah told PTI after three days of talks with NSCN (I-M) General Secretary T Muivah.
Eighteen years ago the government of India signed a truce with the NSCN-IM to facilitate prolonged peace negotiations, which culminated in the August 3 peace accord.
The MHA said the government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary.
Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM has threatened to break its 27-year-old ceasefire agreement with the government and return to its "armed struggle" if its demands for a separate "national flag and constitution" are not met.
In his message to the people on the eve of 58th Statehood Day, Ravi, the interlocutor for the Naga peace process, said the essence of India is its unity in diversity, on the demand for integration of Naga inhabited areas in other states, especially Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
One person was killed and another injured in heavy firing between two groups at Narainsena in Bishnupur district on Tuesday morning, police said.
Sources within the security forces said the unit had deployed different teams for surveillance and ambush after receiving the inputs about the movement of terrorists in the Tiru area of the Mon district of Nagaland.
Muivah flew from New Delhi and landed at Dimapur airport, where he was given a brief civic reception by local officials.
The top court also issued notices to the Centre, Nagaland government and others on two pleas filed by the wives of Army officers named in the case.
Stating that there is no nomenclature for the three groups who have come together, Akato said they will approach the Centre for political talks.
The Asian Human Rights Commission called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday to intervene in diffusing the escalating tension, especially in Nagaland-Manipur boundary areas in Mao.
Two women died in a stampede after police burst tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of T Muivah supporters who became restive following hours of wait to receive the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Miuvah general secretary, who postponed his visit to his native village in Manipur on Thursday.
The parties agreed to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the Naga political problem first.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday said there was strong possibility of Islamic extremists establishing "sleeper cells" in the state with the help of active members of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muviah).
The ULFA chairman also criticised the government of Assam and the government in New Delhi for overlooking Nagaland's bid to encroach upon Assam territory.
Rebel groups, particularly militants from National Socialist Council of Nagaland factions, are creating trouble in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. These militants are taking advantage of the mountainous terrain as well as the lack of manpower and firepower of the Arunachal Pradesh police to tackle insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah is aiming to carry forward the ongoing Naga peace process.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has warned of stern action against National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, the Naga rebel group, which recently 'directed' the 12 elected representatives from various constituencies in Tirap and Changlang districts to withdraw support to Dorjee Khandu-led Congress government in the frontier hill state.
Talks between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland(Isaak Muivah) are likely to begin in New Delhi on Tuesday with the Naga rebel group asserting it has not withdrawn its key demand of sovereignty for Nagaland, a call rejected by the Centre as not feasible.
The prime minister assured the people of Nagaland that the Centre will always be sensitive to the needs of the people.
Rediff.com's Surajit Talukdar got in touch with author Frans Welman, secretary of the Amsterdam-based Naga International Support Centre, who is considered to be close to the leadership of the NSCN (I-M). Here are excerpts from the exclusive e-mail interview.
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