Peace in jeopardy

The dastardly attempt on the life of Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir near Dimapur on Monday morning has blown the Nagaland ceasefire skyhigh. As Governor Om Prakash Sharma has said it was not just an attack on an individual, but "a murderous assault on the peace initiatives taken by the Government of India". Though the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issak-Muivah), the signatory to the truce in the strife-torn State, has denied its involvement, the Government seems to have taken the denial with a pinch of salt. If the bid on Jamir’s life was made by some other outfit to disrupt the ongoing peace process between the Government and the NSCN (I-M), as claimed by the organization’s publicity secretary, then it appears the ceasefire has lost its meaning. The NSCN (I-M) has not identified the group or individuals responsible for the outrage, but one can reasonably assume that the organization is fully aware as to the identity of the culprits. Relying on the State Government’s suspicion on the NSCN (I-M)’s hand behind the assassination attempt, the Centre has rightly directed the security forces in Nagaland to come down heavily on all violations of agreed ground rules of ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M). Their deployment is being increased. The ground rules which will be valid till July 7 next will now be implemented "in letter and spirit".

Massive combing operation has been launched by the Assam Rifles in and around Dimapur to nab the perpetrators of the crime, but there is not much chance of apprehension of the culprits. The nature of the attack was almost like a war. Before opening fire on the six-vehicle convoy of the Chief Minister from ambush, the 20-strong group of marauding militants ignited 14 improvised devices planted along National Highway-39 by which Jamir and his party were travelling. Two of the police escorts were killed and six others were injured. That Jamir himself escaped unhurt, though his briefcase was hit by a bullet, was as much due to his own presence of mind and will to survive as to the Almighty’s grace. Jamir who had survived three previous assassination attempts seems to possess a charmed life. This time also he had to crawl away from the scene of the crime giving his assailants the slip. Despite his age — he is 69 — Jamir is still very much active and the high risk life he has been leading has hardened him and taught him the tricks to survive. He must be congratulated on his hair’s breadth escape while the murderous attack deserves to be roundly condemned. The attack has undoubtedly thrown a spanner in the peace process which has been in progress in Nagaland. Apart from the setback in Nagaland it is likely to affect the efforts to bring the underground elements in neighbouring Assam to the negotiating table. The United Liberation Front of Asom, for example, has shown no sign of relaxing their stand. The ULFA leadership’s stubborn rebuff to all peace overtures and invitations to talks is certainly a matter for worry. Taking a cue from the ULFA, the Bodo groups like the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have also spurned offers for talks. There is also the question that if a Chief Minister is shot at from ambush in an area where declared ceasefire is in force, what is such ceasefire worth? The operation against the militants in Assam has undoubtedly had its effect. A fresh batch of ULFA cadres is scheduled to surrender on December 5. But despite such occasional surrenders the ULFA problem persists. The Government went out of its way to grant all facilities including "safe passage" if the leadership came forward for a

dialogue. It is to be hoped the underground leadership would appreciate the futility of continuing its pursuit of an unattainable goal and veer round to negotiations. Peace has become a crying need for the North East.

The Assam Tribune

Finding, our way

The killing of a student in Kohima by the tribe of "unidentified gunmen "whose body was recovered some 13 kilometres away below the Kohima-Chetheba road on Sunday and the abduction of three school children in Dimapur are an all too frequent scenario in Nagaland which has only confirmed that lawless elements are laying siege to society while people can only throw up their hands in utter despair.

These acts clearly indicate that society is left without any guarantee as the feeling of helplessness abounds in the hearths and homes. There is no denying the fact that the once fiercely independent Naga society today is in a shambles. When we look all around the economic well being is shattered and ethics and morals at their lowest ebb while the spiritual values that are expected to meet the challenges have also fallen far short, despite stress and importance given to them.

Every citizen of Nagaland not only has a right to know that these are indeed very discouraging trends but also shares as much responsibility to act. The killings in Kohima in the recent weeks show that there is no let-up on bloodshed despite every effort made by the church and NGOs. The abduction of three school children leaves a very sickening feeling that criminal elements have now even targeted not only the unarmed and helpless civilians but children. Who knows what these elements would do next but it can be rest assured, they would graduate to more shocking crimes unless they are put behind bars for a long time. Kidnapping children whether for ransom or for any other motive merits serious attention of the people because unless they react with anger and outrage, children will no longer be safe and robbing the small of even this little god given freedom is indeed nothing short of a satanic deed. Money has become the main objective no matter what excuses of pleas given. People cannot be fooled any longer and so it is time for the people of Nagaland to take note. Even killings have far ceased to have any reason or justification, even in the most extreme of cases because they have become nothing but plain and simple acts of murder, and in many cases , in cold blooded. Looking at society today, one only shudders to think of what these would one day lead to, if not checked. Can crimes go unpunished while the law remains only as reminders in the statute books?

In the currant scenario, the government which runs and nurtures its system finds fit to describe all these as political killings and political crimes. The national workers describe these as capital punishment against those who fall foul of their ideology or action. The church believes that evil plagues society because people have turned away from Godly living and standards.

As for the public, they too believe that all leaders are untrustworthy and so have lost faith in them and the system.

Nagaland Post