Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, on his maiden visit to Nagaland, seen here at the Chumukedima Police Training Center, Tuesday. (Morung Photos)
DIMAPUR : Taking a strong stand against any sort of violation of the ceasefire ground rules, Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram today sounded a clear message that “gross violation of the ceasefire ground rules will not be tolerated”. Saying that the message of zero-tolerance against violation of ceasefire rules has been sent out to the “underground groups”, Chidambaram expressed hope that the “message has reached home”.
With regards to the Naga political situation, the Home minister said that talks are still going on and he would be happy if the talks came to an end. He, however, passed on the buck saying that it is now up to the NSCN (IM) to come up with a proposal within the Indian Constitution. “The centre is willing to examine the new proposals of the NSCN-IM but within the framework of the Constitution”, Chidambaram reportedly said.
During a brief interaction with media persons after an hour-long meeting at the guest house of Chumukedima Police Training Center, the Union Home minister informed that his maiden visit to Nagaland was part of a tour to review law and order situations in every state. Replying to a query as to whether he was satisfied with the law and order situation in Nagaland, Chidambaram said that one is ‘never satisfied but could only hope to do better’.
The Home minister also expressed concern at the significant number of kidnapping, extortion, killings and other incidents in Nagaland that marked year 2008. However, he also took note of the fact that the state had ‘done better’ during the second part of the year since July but iterated the need for security forces to remain vigilant.
In response to questions on Shiroi confrontation, Chidambaram justified that the NSCN (IM) had tried to set up a camp there and this has been resisted by the security forces. The Home Minister however dodged queries on whether the Cease fire should be extended to all Naga Inhabited areas by replying that Ceasefire in common parlance meant that one does not fire upon each other or do injury to each other. Therefore, he ambiguously and defensively concluded that if the Naga groups did not indulge in violence than ‘surely’ the security forces would not cause any harm.
‘Zero-tolerance against ceasefire violation’The outburst is believed to be in response to the issue put forward by Nagaland Government. Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio said that Assam Rifle and NSCN (IM) confrontations of both Pfutsero and Shiroi incidents had been discussed during the meeting with the Union Minister. The state government is said to have put across to the Union Home Minister that both sides “should not provoke each other but rather maintain cordial relationship.” Rio said that the Home Minister had been happy over the improvement of the law and order situation from the early part of last year which was put down as a combined effort of the state government, security forces, civil societies etc. The Chief Minister of Nagaland also confirmed discussing the issue of strict imposition of Ground Rules, Besides this, Rio said that the meeting had talked about the maintaining of peaceful atmosphere in the state for the Lok Sabha elections which was a mere six to seven weeks away.
The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram was on a visit to the North Eastern States of Manipur and Nagaland for attaining first hand account of the security situation. Chidambaram held a security review meeting at the Imphal secretariat with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and senior officials after which he flew to Nagaland’s commercial capital Dimapur and held a similar meeting at the Police Training Academy, Chumukedima.
Besides the CM others who attended the meeting were Planning and Coordination Minister TR Zeliang, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Forest Minister MC Konyak, PHE Minister Dr. Ngangshi K Ao and Parliamentary secretaries Yanthungo Patton, RK Khing and Chotisuh Sazo. State officials including Lalthara, HK Khulu and other officers from SID, CRPF, AR also attended the meet.
With regards to the Naga political situation, the Home minister said that talks are still going on and he would be happy if the talks came to an end. He, however, passed on the buck saying that it is now up to the NSCN (IM) to come up with a proposal within the Indian Constitution. “The centre is willing to examine the new proposals of the NSCN-IM but within the framework of the Constitution”, Chidambaram reportedly said.
During a brief interaction with media persons after an hour-long meeting at the guest house of Chumukedima Police Training Center, the Union Home minister informed that his maiden visit to Nagaland was part of a tour to review law and order situations in every state. Replying to a query as to whether he was satisfied with the law and order situation in Nagaland, Chidambaram said that one is ‘never satisfied but could only hope to do better’.
The Home minister also expressed concern at the significant number of kidnapping, extortion, killings and other incidents in Nagaland that marked year 2008. However, he also took note of the fact that the state had ‘done better’ during the second part of the year since July but iterated the need for security forces to remain vigilant.
In response to questions on Shiroi confrontation, Chidambaram justified that the NSCN (IM) had tried to set up a camp there and this has been resisted by the security forces. The Home Minister however dodged queries on whether the Cease fire should be extended to all Naga Inhabited areas by replying that Ceasefire in common parlance meant that one does not fire upon each other or do injury to each other. Therefore, he ambiguously and defensively concluded that if the Naga groups did not indulge in violence than ‘surely’ the security forces would not cause any harm.
‘Zero-tolerance against ceasefire violation’The outburst is believed to be in response to the issue put forward by Nagaland Government. Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio said that Assam Rifle and NSCN (IM) confrontations of both Pfutsero and Shiroi incidents had been discussed during the meeting with the Union Minister. The state government is said to have put across to the Union Home Minister that both sides “should not provoke each other but rather maintain cordial relationship.” Rio said that the Home Minister had been happy over the improvement of the law and order situation from the early part of last year which was put down as a combined effort of the state government, security forces, civil societies etc. The Chief Minister of Nagaland also confirmed discussing the issue of strict imposition of Ground Rules, Besides this, Rio said that the meeting had talked about the maintaining of peaceful atmosphere in the state for the Lok Sabha elections which was a mere six to seven weeks away.
The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram was on a visit to the North Eastern States of Manipur and Nagaland for attaining first hand account of the security situation. Chidambaram held a security review meeting at the Imphal secretariat with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and senior officials after which he flew to Nagaland’s commercial capital Dimapur and held a similar meeting at the Police Training Academy, Chumukedima.
Besides the CM others who attended the meeting were Planning and Coordination Minister TR Zeliang, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Forest Minister MC Konyak, PHE Minister Dr. Ngangshi K Ao and Parliamentary secretaries Yanthungo Patton, RK Khing and Chotisuh Sazo. State officials including Lalthara, HK Khulu and other officers from SID, CRPF, AR also attended the meet.
NSCN (IM) on Shiroi impasse
‘Not on wrong side of CF rules’
Dimapur: The NSCN (IM) today said its cadres have vacated camp in Shiroi village after “holding it” for more than two weeks. The cadres of “Kiusumong battalion” vacated ‘defending their stand that they are not on the wrong side of the ceasefire ground rules,’ a note from the outfit’s MIP asserted.
According to the note, the 17 Assam Rifles raised objection “in the manner that smack of confrontation in the midst of the eleven years of Indo-Naga political negotiation”. The cadres stood ground for 14 days while civil society organized peaceful protests “to send the message across that political negotiation is the only road to solution and not armed confrontation”.
The outfit expresses gratitude to civil society, women and students for bearing all the hardship and their role in various capacities. “Such involvement and participation is critically felt in this changing Indo-Naga political scenario. Greater challenge is already placed before the Nagas and we have to be ready to defend our political rights” the MIP note asserted.
‘Not on wrong side of CF rules’
Dimapur: The NSCN (IM) today said its cadres have vacated camp in Shiroi village after “holding it” for more than two weeks. The cadres of “Kiusumong battalion” vacated ‘defending their stand that they are not on the wrong side of the ceasefire ground rules,’ a note from the outfit’s MIP asserted.
According to the note, the 17 Assam Rifles raised objection “in the manner that smack of confrontation in the midst of the eleven years of Indo-Naga political negotiation”. The cadres stood ground for 14 days while civil society organized peaceful protests “to send the message across that political negotiation is the only road to solution and not armed confrontation”.
The outfit expresses gratitude to civil society, women and students for bearing all the hardship and their role in various capacities. “Such involvement and participation is critically felt in this changing Indo-Naga political scenario. Greater challenge is already placed before the Nagas and we have to be ready to defend our political rights” the MIP note asserted.