North East News Agency

Finally good sense prevails. NSCN factions after bloodshed signed a ceasefire agreement declaring that they will not resort to conflicts and clashes in Sumi (Sema tribe) dominated areas in Nagaland.The historic declaration was made following a meeting initiated by the Sumi (Sema tribe) Hoho at Zunheboto even as two incidents of clashes between the two factions were reported.

The resolution declared that the Sumi Hoho, the apex body of the Sumis, will expedite peace process between the factions and that henceforth there will be no clashes in Sumi areas. The Sumis will withdraw support to the faction, which starts and conflicts and clashes in Sumi area, the resolution stated. Both sides agreed with the declaration and resolved to adhere to the agreement.

NSCN (IM) side was represented by Kilonser Shikato Chishi Swu, younger brother of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu, and other leaders including Tatars, the NSCN (K) was represented by Brig Niki Sumi, Commander of its army in the area, Col Aheto and its Military Spokesman Isak Sumi. Others present at the meeting included representatives of the Sumi Hoho, Sumi Totimi Hoho (STH) and All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) among others.

The clash between the two groups started as a repercussion of NSCN (K) Kilonser Ngampan Konyak ‘s assassination and the reprisals that led to the killing of Zunheboto NSCN (IM) Leacy Shukhato Rotoka. Moreover,  NSCN (K) claimed that it had gained control of Zunheboto and other districts including Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Phek.

Following the situation from the stand-off in Zunheboto between the two warring factions of the NSCN, Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell/Supervisory Cell Lt. General (Retd) Kulkarni said that the people and the security forces should react since the clashes are a violation of the ceasefire ground rules. In this regard the General cautioned the factions to keep away from public areas. “The Assam Rifles, security Forces and the people should react to such (clashes) by the factions. They are a violation of the ground rules” Lt. General Kulkarni, who visited Zunheboto to ‘assess the situation’, said.  “The prevailing situation was discussed. We warned the groups to leave camps in the town and leave the public places” he said.

Meanwhile, Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) has reviewed the prevailing insurgency situation in a meeting at Dimapur. CFMG chairman, representatives of security forces, Nagaland Government and the NSCN (IM) attended the meeting.

Later, Lt Gen (Retd) R V Kulkarni, Chairman of CFMG, informed that the overall situation has been reviewed with a positive outlook. It is learnt that in the meeting, the NSCN (IM) has been told that both the centre and state governments were concerned about armed underground cadres entering and living in populated areas especially among ordinary citizens. He expressed concern on the escalation of violence and talked about methods to curb them. He hoped that the discussions of the meeting would bear positive results. The group decided to meet again within a fortnight. The meeting held in the backdrop of the state government’s directions to all armed underground cadres to leave populated areas.

Phungthing questioned the sincerity of Delhi and said the Centre should have consulted the organisation before taking any moves like the recent orders of the Superintendents of Police to vacate civilian areas. He said, ‘It was not only the law and order problem, but a political problem.’

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