Naturally, the strident posture of the NSCN (IM) has made chances of peace coming back to the State very slim. The Nagas, who witnessed troubled days for the last 50 years are now thriving for peace. The ongoing peace process, which raised some hope, is now at a crucial juncture.

Now the question is who will determine the fate of the Nagas the guntoting underground forces or the common Naga people?

Besides, the ongoing ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN (IM) is coming to an end at the end of this month. Will it get another lease of life or will it mark the end of the ongoing peace process? Mr. Jamir is keeping a close watch on the situation. Because he knows that if the peace process fails, it will bring more trouble for the people and the State. Thus he is interested in the extension of ceasefire period, so that it gives the people a chance to prevail upon the underground forces to explore all possible ways for an amicable solution through negotiation of the vexed Naga problem.

Recently the Nagaland Chief Minister was in Delhi. The North East News Agency met him and discussed with him the present situation in the State.

Excerpts of the interview:

North East News Agency: How is the present situation in Nagaland?

S.C. Jamir: It's not very encouraging. As you are aware that a particular underground group has rejected the appeal of the Naga people for unification, the situation has undergone a sea-change. The Nagas thought that the undergrounds would respect their wishes. But now it is clear that the underground forces are more interested in imposing their whims and fancy upon the common people in the name of Naga cause. I cannot understand this. If the underground forces are really interested in the welfare and well-being of the Naga people, they should not ignore their voices. But in Nagaland, it is happening. The underground leaders poohpoohed the people's wishes and seemed to be more interested in dictating the terms. This is not a good sign. Because these underground leaders, when they will find that the people are not listening to them may use their gun power to choke the people's voices. We will have to keep a close watch on the situation and take all necessary measures so that gun power never overrides the people's wishes.

NENA: How do you view the visit of the two top NSCN (IM) leaders after a gap of 33 years in the State?

S.C. Jamir: The Naga people were happy to learn that these leaders were coming to the State to understand the ground reality. So the people were prepared to tell them their feelings about the ongoing peace process, unification and many more things.

But, the way these two leaders behaved during their stay in the State, it gave an impression that they did not come to understand the situation. Rather they came to tell the people to fall in line. They did not show any respect to the people's wishes and wanted the people to follow their dictactes. Their visit really frustrated the Naga people, who thought that unification among various Naga underground groups would be the first step in solving the Naga problem. But, in the end, the Naga people had left with no other options, but to feel dejected because these leaders were not in favour of unification. They did not favour the 'give and take' policy required to achieve such objectives. Rather, they wanted the other groups to surrender before them. Obviously, it was not accepted to the other groups. They also flatly rejected the offers made by these two leaders. These leaders have failed to realise that until and unless all Naga factions are united, the chances of an amicable solution of the Naga problem are very slim. If they are really fighting for the Naga cause, they should respect the people's wishes at the earliest.

NENA: Do you have any idea of how did these leaders make such a blunder of ignoring the people's wishes?

S.C. Jamir: To my mind, there are two reasons for it. Firstly, as these leaders were not in touch with the common Naga people, they had no inkling of the people's desire. Secondly, in the last few years, all they heard about Nagaland was only from the close lieutenants. Naturally, these lieutenants never gave them the correct picture anticipating the wrath of their leaders. So the NSCN (IM) leaders had this wrong idea that the Naga people were with them and they would blindly follow them. They were not aware about the changing scenario in the State. With this wrong idea, they came to conquer the State, but in the end, they virtually returned empty handed.

NENA: At this juncture, how do you foresee the fate of the ongoing peace process?

S.C. Jamir: I am confident that peace will make a comeback in the State very soon. People yearn for peace. They are fed up with mindless violence and senseless killings. They want to get rid of such situation, where there is very little value of human lives.

I am also confident that today or tomorrow, the underground leaders have to surrender before the people's wishes. They will be forced to see the reason. Because, there is no force on the earth which can throttle the people's voices. If the Nagas want peace, there will be peace in Nagaland.

NENA: The ongoing ceasefire is coming to an end at the end of this month. Will you support another extension of the ceasefire?

S.C. Jamir: Definitely, I will support anothers extension of the ceasefire. There is no two opinions about this. For the sake of peace , ceasefire should be extended.

NENA: But two years of ceasefire have virtually achieved nothing.

S.C. Jamir: So what? It does not mean that we will close all the doors for negotiations. Let me tell you very frankly that an amicable solution of the Naga problem can be reached only through negotiations. So we should not shut the doors for negotiations. And who knows what the next two years hold for us? So talks should go on. Ceasefire should be extended.

NENA: What about your latest round of discussion with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee?

S.C. Jamir: I informed him about the situation in the State and also briefed him about the general law and order situation of the State.

NENA: Do you apprehend that the general law and order situation in the State may deteriorate after the withdrawal of security forces from Nagaland in wake of Kargil conflict?

S.C. Jamir: The disruptive forces may try to take advantage of the situation. But we are on alert. We are confident of foiling any such attempts.

NENA: But is the State Police competent enough to handle such situation without active cooperation from the security forces?

S.C. Jamir: You may have doubts about the ability of the State Police force, but I have full faith on them. They can face any challenge. If properly motivated, they can perform any task.

NENA: What is the motivation now?

S.C. Jamir: First and foremost, to maintain peace in Nagaland. Secondly, not to allow the anti-national forces to take advantage of the crisis.

NENA: Few Nagas have made supreme sacrifices in the ongoing Kargil conflict....

S.C. Jamir: We are all very proud of them. I think, not only the Nagas, but also the entire country is feeling the same for them. The supreme sacrifices by the Nagas in Kargil are a befitting reply to those who always equate Nagaland with rebellion. The fact that the Nagas have also laid down their lives for the sake of the nation clearly proves that the Nagas are as patriotic as any other Indians.

Only last evening, I went to the Army Base Hospital to see some of the injured Nagas. I found that their morale was very high. They were all willing to give a befitting reply to the nasty Pakistani designs. Again I must say that we are proud of them.

NENA: Do you have any special financial package to offer to our Kargil heroes?