Kigwema (Nagaland), January 04: "All solutions of Nagaland lies in Nagaland, it will not come from outside.

We have everything here --wisdom, people--besides elected Government to solve people's problem", said Nagaland Governor Om Prakash Sharma here while welcoming 42(forty two) cadres including 19 from NSCN(K), 14 from NSCN(IM), 5 from NFG(Nagaland Federal Government) , 2 from ULFA and 2 from UPDS in the impressive "rehabilitation ceremony" here today at Kigwema stadium , some 12 kms away from Kohima.

The Governor while expressing his deep happiness to see the young boys coming back into the fold of a just and law-abiding society, said "this boys are not culprits nor criminals.

They are the victims of circumstances and individuals who gave them false promises and saw wrong path".

He urged the people to welcome and give a new life to these misguided youth.

The Governor congratulated the elders who had been instrumental in motivating the ultras into the mainstream and further called upon the people, NGOs to use their influence to prevent more young people from "falling into the valley of death".

He encouraged those who have been lured into the path of violence to take advantage of the golden opportunity provided to them by the Government through the "Rehabilitation Package".

While interacting with the surrenderees, they said they were fed up with the ideology professed by the undergrounds, their autocratic style of leadership, harsh living conditions, lack of financial benefits and exploitation by few for their personal gains.

These young men also said that they wanted to live an honorable life without any fear and join the mainstream.

The Governor also said the ongoing violence in the state had denigrated development, progress and peace to a back stage and instead brought about poverty, social and economic backwardness to the Nagas.

He said they needed to move forward and think of issues, which, he pointed out, could resolve matters, and not hinder settlement.

Sharma said public had realised the futility of this continued violence which had over the past five decades claimed thousands of lives and left "Nagaland socially and economically deprived" and further added that everyone must stand up against the violence and crime perpetuated by the insurgents in an earnest bid to find a peaceful solution to this ongoing problem.

During the rehabilitation ceremony, another 10(ten) ultras who have already been rehabilitated were also accorded an official recognition of their desire to join the mainstream.

Earlier rehabilitation ceremony for ultras who have surrendered with weapons was held in December 2000 and the another one on July 2, 2001 at Kohima where seventeen cadres had laid down their arms to Lt General TS Shergill, GOC 3 Crops.

Earlier the ultras handed over large number of weapons which included AK 56s, AK 46s, pistols, grenades, carbines, Sniffer, Walkie Talkie and huge live rounds etc.--to the Governor and presented each (surrendered ultras) with cash as part of the rehabilitation scheme.

The Nagaland Government has already announced a scheme for the surrender and rehabilitation of militants with the approval of the Centre.

Sources said the objective of the scheme is to wean misguided youth away from militancy.

The scheme also seeks to ensure that surrendered militants who surrender with at least one weapon.

Those eligible under the scheme will initially be lodged in rehabilitation camp.

Here they will be imparted training in a trade or vocation of their choice.

They will also be paid a monthly stipend for a period of 12 months and their stay in the rehabilitation camp will not exceed one year.

During this period, the Government would make all attempts to rehabilitate the militants.

Those who go back to crime will forfeit the benefits of the scheme.

The sources further said, the militants can surrender before the commissioner, the deputy commissioner, the additional deputy commissioner and other administrative officials.

State Chief Minister SC Jamir, his Cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary RS Pandey, Nagaland GOC Maj , General RN Kapur, State DGP Hesso Mao were among others who were present during the impressive rehabilitation ceremony.

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