Centre gets 3 more states to declare ceasefire with NSCN(IM)

Centre gets 3 more states to declare ceasefire with NSCN(IM)
AJAY SURI

NEW DELHI, MARCH 2: Managing a tactical victory of sorts which is likely further silence the militants' guns in the turbulent North-East, the Central Government today roped in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh Governments into its ceasefire with the NSCN(IM), the main insurgent group in Nagaland.

Till recently, the Chief Ministers of the three states were dead against any extension of the ceasefire in their territories. But today, after holding meeting with Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, the three changed their earlier tune and said they would co-operate with New Delhi's initiatives in bringing peace to the strife-torn region. Though ULFA did not come under ``active discussion'', observers pointed out that bringing about a complete easefire with NSCN in the four states was likely to pave the way for inclusion of other militant groups under the ceasefire umbrella.

The brainstorming sessions with the three CMs -- held separately -- continued for the good part of the day. Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, accompanied by Governor S.K. Sinha, was the first to meet the Vajpayee and Advani. He was followed by Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koizam while Arunachal Chief Minister Mukut Mithi met them late in the evening.

One thing that emerged clearly during the meetings was that chief ministers of at least two states want New Delhi to announce ceasefire with other militant groups as well. Koizam, it is learnt, was the most vocal. Having already declared a month-long unilateral ceasefire with all groups in the state, the Manipur Chief Minister said it was time for the Centre to treat these outfits as it had been treating NSCN(IM). Currently, as many as 17 groups call the shots in Manipur.

Advani, however, cautioned that extension of the ceasefire does not mean -- either directly or indirectly -- endorsing the stand of greater Nagaland as demanded by the separatist groups.

Officials said the decision to hold meetings with the three leaders separately was a deliberate move. ``A few months ago,'' they recalled, ``the chief ministers were called together and all of them came up with a unanimous no to the Government's proposal that they should enter into ceasefire with the Naga group. This time, for obvious reasons, we made a change in the proceedings.''

North Block, meawnhile, has already completed the ground of extending ceasefire to two other Naga groups, NSCN(K) and the Naga Federal Group. An announcement to this effect would be made in Parliament any day now, sources said.