NEWS - Back to killing:Time to revi

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Subject: NEWS - Back to killing:Time to review Nagaland ceasefire

Back to killing:Time to review Nagaland ceasefire

The Statesman - India
The Isak and Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim
claiming responsibility for the killing of rival NSCN-Khaplang general
secretary Dally Mungro and two others in Kohima last week might have
passed for routine had the ceasefire not been in force. But NSCN-IM
ceasefire monitoring cell convenor, Colonel P. Shimrang, believes his
group has not violated the ceasefire and argues that the truce is only
between them and the Centre. In other words, his announcement in March
of the suspension of operations against the NSCN-K and the Federal
Government of Nagaland, the armed wing of the Naga National Council, is
no longer valid. Reports suggest the order was to catch Mungro alive
but he was killed accidentally when cadres reacted to provocative
"action" by Mungro?s bodyguards. Whatever the motive, the outrage has
certainly vitiated the atmosphere and heightened tension at a time when
the ceasefire had raised a glimmer of hope for a solution and lasting
peace. However, there have been frequent violations to render the
ceasefire meaningless. According to army sources 140 encounters took
place
between rival armed groups, as well as 314 murders and 237 abductions.
About 450 cadres of either side defected from one group to another.
What is of greater concern is the forcible collection of "taxes" by
militant outfits in blatant disregard for the guidelines set for the
ceasefire. Since
law and order is the first priority, Delhi will be well advised to
review the truce and if necessary terminate it. If militants continue to
take matters
into their own hands the on-going peace talks will be the main casualty.

Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah must judge the people?s mood for
unification and reconciliation properly. It is a hard decision to make
but they
will enhance their stature and that of the party if they cease to insist
on conditional unity, that Khaplang must admit his mistake. Amid the
encircling gloom comes the welcome decision by the Kohima village
council to bar armed militants from their village. A clear message that
they
are prepared to exorcise the nightmares of the past.

                                                                             
The Statesman