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NEWS - India Extends Ceasefire Agre
- Subject: NEWS - India Extends Ceasefire Agre
- From: Rangoonp@xxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 20:24:00
Subject: NEWS - India Extends Ceasefire Agreement with Naga Rebels
India Extends Ceasefire Agreement with Naga Rebels
Reuters
28-JUL-99
NEW DELHI, July 28 (Reuters) - The Indian government and
a leading separatist group from the northeastern state of
Nagaland have extended a ceasefire agreement by a year
from August 1, the government said on Wednesday.
In a statement, New Delhi said officials and the National
Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) had agreed to the
extension.
"This is in pursuance of the ongoing peace process
between
the two held at Amsterdam on July 23 and 24," the
statement
said.
The two-year-old ceasefire agreement would have ended at
the end of July.
India began a dialogue with Isak Swu and Thuingaleng
Muivah, two leaders of the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) faction,
three years ago, but progress has been slow.
The rebels' inability to settle differences with rival
factions is
seen as a major hurdle to restoring peace in the
violence-hit
province close to Myanmar's border.
The ceasefire, which has been in force since August 1997,
was seen as a step towards restoring peace in the
province,
one of the most troubled in the tumultuous northeast
where
more than 200 ethnic groups are fighting for secession or
independent homelands.
In 1975, the separatist Naga National Council signed a
peace accord that accepted the Indian constitution, but
was
challenged by Swu and Muivah, who have led a life in
exile
ever since.