Nagaland ceasefire may be broadbased

By Vinay Kumar

KOHIMA, FEB. 25. The Centre is ``actively considering'' the proposal of the Nagaland Government to extend the ongoing three- year-old ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN- Isaac-Muivah) to two other major insurgent groups in the State.

``The State Government has been seeking a ceasefire with other insurgent groups too. We are actively considering the proposal,'' the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said while addressing a joint press conference along with the Chief Minister, Mr. S.C. Jamir, here today.

This means that the Vajpayee Government could soon formally enter into a ceasefire agreement with the Khaplang faction of the NSCN and the Naga Federal Group (NFG). It could come about during the ongoing budget session of Parliament, according to indications available here. Though the NSCN(I-M) has expressed itself against the move, the Centre is most likely to rope in the NSCN(K) and the NFG into the ceasefire.

Rounding off his two-day visit with ``immense satisfaction'' over the climate of peace that has enthused the people of the State after a long time, Mr. Advani said: ``Everyone here is talking of peace. It appears to be a season of peace in Nagaland. Adivasi organisations, NGOs, and others appear exuberant for ushering in an era of lasting peace after the insurgency of five decades.'' Mr. Advani quoted figures which showed that in the last six months there had been only one or two stray killings every month as against 17 killings a month prior to the ceasefire. During the three-year period preceding the ceasefire, the number of civilians and security personnel killed was 378 as against 112 since July 1997.

Cites Kashmir

He said the Centre was willing to talk to any militant group if it was ready to abjure violence and come to the negotiating table. ``Peace is a dynamic force in itself. We tried to avail of it even in Jammu and Kashmir which has been in the throes of militancy for more than a decade. In Jammu and Kashmir our effort has been to build up a peace offensive within the State,'' Mr. Advani said drawing a parallel with the Kashmir initiative.

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