Govt urged to withdraw arrest warrants against NSCN (IM) leaders

DIMAPUR, May 1 ? The Ex-Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland while welcoming the extension of the ongoing truce between Government of India and the NSCN (K) for a period of one more year has demanded the State Government to withdraw the arrest warrants against the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) leaders, Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah. The Association President Tochi Hanso said, "This is a positive step towards creating goodwill and it must be done at the earliest". But he was critical about the almost 5-year-old truce between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM), which has been going on without much progress. The Association also insisted the Central Government for similar ceasefire with the Naga National Council (NNC) group adding, "Because it is clear that all must be included in the search for a workable Naga political settlement. Hanso, said the time has come for the Naga people for positive action and not just words, "let us concentrate on how best and how quickly we can create the necessary environment so that the Naga political problem can be solved at the earliest, compared with this central question everything else is secondary". The Association also expressed discontent over what it described "unnecessary and unhelpful statements" in the press and asked for sincerity through actions. He said many statements and press releases have been appearing in the newspapers, some of the statements are positive and helpful but some of them only create more confusion in the minds of the Naga people. The president further called for neutrality taking into account all groups so that it can keep the Naga populace united and that settlement to the political problem is not delayed. Meanwhile, another organization, the Nagaland Peace Centre, has also welcomed the extension of ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (K) for yet another one year from April 28, stating that a sincere desire by both sides is also seen in this effort and during this period of ceasefire there has not been a single shot fired by either side. Chairman of the Peace Centre, N Theyo also urged both the groups to absolutely enforce the Ceasefire Agreement in letter and spirit and expedite the Peace Talk for an early resolution to the problem. "No Naga wants to see a cruel fratricidal conflict in any form and we appeal for peace and reconciliation".