Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 14:
Insurgent outfit National Socialist Council Of Nagaland (IM), which today agreed to extend the four-year ceasefire with the government for one more year, has also agreed to abide by the ground rules agreed in January this year, Home Secretary Kamal Pande said.
These ground rules, which were first finalised at a meeting on December 12, 1997, were revised on January13 this year, making them more stringent and specific.
As per these ground rules, both sides agreed not to undertake any offensive action against each other.
The main features of these rules include notification by the insurgent group listing all its camps to the Ceasefire Monitoring group (CFMG), getting their camps designated by CFMG, providing prior intimation of movement of its cadres from one camp to another an preventing extortion.
Under these rules, the insurgent group would notify all its camps to the CFMG which would declare them as �designated camps� and the NSCN(IM) cadres would not carryout parades in populated areas, roads and highways in Nagaland.
It was also mutually agreed that no safe haven or assistance would be provided to any armed group or element s by anyone and no army post would be set up within two kilometers of the �designate camps�.
To facilitate movement of paramilitary forces� posts concerned would be given prior intimation and the modalities finalised at he Ceasefire Monitoring group, as per the revised ground rules.
Photo-identity cards, not more than 60, would be issued to selected NSCN (IM) cadres by the insurgent outfit and they would be countersigned by CFMG.
During movement of these cadres, they would be allowed to carry arms in a concealed manner, especially when they pass through villages.
The insurgent group also agreed to prevent forcible collection of money from government officials and forced recruitment of cadres.
The security forces would also not carry out offensive operations against NSCN (IM) and act in a manner causing damage or injury to civilian population.
However, the security forces would continue their operations to prevent infiltration of militants and arms, but informs the designated insurgent incase they had to carry out patrolling within kilometer radius of these camps.
Under the ground rules, the NSCN (IM) agreed that its designated camps would not be located in populated areas or near highways, while the security forces would undertake operations to protect convoys on these highways.
The two sides also agreed that any accidental encounter be allowed to jeopardize the peace process and mutual consultation should be under taken to defuse the situation.