POLITICS-INDIA: Naga Tribals Warn Against Change in Cease-fire Terms

By Ranjit Devraj Reprint | | Print |

Ranjit Devraj

NEW DELHI, Jul 16 2001 (IPS) - Naga tribal leaders warned the “central government” on Monday of unwanted consequences if it allowed itself to be pressured by other ethnic groups in India’s troubled north- east to renege on a ceasefire agreement offered to Naga militant groups.

The Jun 14 agreement between the central government and the militant National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) extended a four-year-old ceasefire beyond Nagaland state and into the neighbouring states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh which have substantial Naga dominated areas.

On Monday, student organisations in Assam, including the All Assam Yuva Chhatra Parishad and the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) enforced a 12-hour strike to protest the geographical extension of the ceasefire and its exclusive application to the NSCN-IM.

Student leader Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya was reported by the United News of India (UNI) as saying in Guwahati, capital of Assam, that a unified movement involving students in all three affected states adjoining Nagaland would soon be launched.

On Sunday, the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) endorsed the move for a unified movement across the north-east and its leader Montu Ahanthem warned the central government against “taking the situation lightly”.

But Naga leaders have arrived in the national capital to counter the campaign against the geographical extension of the ceasefire, saying it is led mostly by the powerful Meitei community which dominates Imphal city, capital of Manipur.

“The government is succumbing to terror used by Meiteis in Manipur,” K.S. Paul Leo, President of the United Naga Council told IPS.

Leo said the Nagas were deeply concerned at the government’s announcement that it would review the ceasefire following a high- level meeting with Meitiei leaders convened by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee earlier.

Vajpayee called the meeting after violent demonstrations rocked the Imphal valley in protest against the ceasefire and Meitei politicians threatened to resign from state legislatures and Parliament unless he reviewed the agreement with the NSCN-IM.

According to Radhabinod Koijam, an ethnic Meitei and former chief minister of Manipur, the extension of the ceasefire appeared to be part of a plan to extend the borders of the present Nagaland at the cost of Manipur and other north-eastern states.

The chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, has expressed similar apprehensions and also said that state police forces under his control would not honour the ceasefire.

In an attempt to defuse the rapidly worsening situation, Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani has announced that his government was ready to move a Parliamentary resolution protecting the present borders of the north-eastern states.

“The centre’s assurance that the territorial integrity of the states would be protected should be enough of an assurance although territorial integrity is a term used for the whole country rather than individual states,” said Apam Muivah, leader of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights.

Valley Rose Hungyo, leader of the Naga Women’s Union in Manipur alleged that the Meitei community was harassing ethnic Nagas. “Our women are being forced to wear the traditional Meitei costume and participate in protests against the ceasefire extension.”

The Naga leaders were evasive about the eventual creation of ‘Greater Nagaland’ and would only say that they would “not demand any territory which did not already belong to the Nagas”.

Earlier the chief of the NSCN-IM, Thuingaleng Muivah was reported saying in Bangkok, where he faces charges of illegal entry into Thailand and an attempt to jump bail, that other ethnic groups had nothing to fear from the ceasefire extension.

“If our brothers, Meiteis and Assamese, interpret the ceasefire as more than ceasefire it is their own creation,” he was quoted as saying.

But the avowed aim of the NSC-IM is the creation of the hypothetical Nagalim, or greater Nagaland from large slices of Assam, Manipur, Arunchal Pradesh and adjoining Burma.

Unlike their neighbours, who are Hindu, Buddhist or animist, the Naga tribes have almost entirely been converted to the Christian faith by missionary activity during British colonial rule.