"Cease fire with IM limited to Nagaland"
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, July 26 2014 : In a development that has the po-tential of giving a very serious detrimental impact on the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM, New Delhi's Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) chairman Lieutenant General (Rtd) NK Singh has precisely stated that the cease fire with the NSCN does not extend outside Nagaland, a total contrast to the position affirmed by the NSCN-IM three days ago.

The NSCN-IM's claim of June 14, 2001 cease fire pact between the Government of India and the Naga outfit (Bangkok Declaration) is 'without territorial limit,' which still stands, has been rubbished by NK Singh saying on July 27, 2001 New Delhi had conveyed to the NSCN-IM that the three words 'without territorial limit' would be deleted from the June 14, 2001 agreement after the protests which claim-ed several lives (in Manipur valley).

The Government of India's CFMG chairman further said that the three words 'without territorial limit' is 'non-existent' now in the cease fire agreement.

NK Singh was elaborating his earlier comment that Ukhrul in Manipur does not come under his jurisdiction.

He was answering to media queries on the present Ukhrul town impasse few days ago.

However, the NSCN-IM had sharply reacted saying the June 14, 2001 cease fire pact is a 'bilateral agreement' but New Delhi seems to be having its own term on the mater unilaterally.

The NSCN-IM terms it as unfortunate and accused NK Singh as being used by 'vested interest officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.

But NK Singh retorted to the NSCN-IM's comment on this and called it as 'unfounded, unfortunate and baseless' .

On the 2004 incident where the then Union Home minister L.K.Advani's intervention had resulted in the release of 13 NSCN-IM lea-ders arrested by Manipur police near Kangpokpi in Senapati district, to which incident the NSCN-IM has cited as a case of the existence of cease fire in Manipur, NK Singh said the release of the NSCN-IM cadres was done as a 'special case'.

After the release of the 13 NSCN-IM leaders from Manipur police cusdody they were escorted till Mao Gate in the Manipur-Nagaland border.

On this NK Singh said,"The very fact that the group was specially escorted all the way back to Mao Gate as claimed by the NSCN (IM) shows that the ceasefire did not exist south of Mao Gate" .

On July 23 while addressing a media conference here, NSCN-IM's Cease Fire Monitoring Cell (CFMC) convenor Kraibo Chawang had recalled that in the year 2004 when 13 NSCN-IM leaders including himself were arrested near Kangpokpi, Sadar Hills in Manipur by the state security force personnel the then Union Home minister L.K.Advani intervened and the NSCN-IM leaders were released the following day.

The seized weapons of the NSCN-IM leaders were also returned by the Manipur government to the NSCN-IM, Kraibo Chawang added.

The 13 NSCN-IM leaders including the outfit's Home minister A.K.Lungalang were heading for Tamenglong for a meeting from Dimapur via I.T.Road but the Manipur security force personnel waylaid them just after crossing Kangpokpi.

These 13 NSCN-IM leaders were brought to Imphal.

But the following day they were handed over to Government of India's CFMG chairman Lieutenant General (Rtd) R.V.Kurkani by the Manipur government.

Reacting to all these NSCN-IM claims, NK Singh said incidents got resolved as special cases since the ceasefire was not applicable (in Manipur) .

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