NEW DELHI, Oct 30 ? Even as threats of joint army operation by India and Myanmar looms large against armed rebels of North-east, a delegation of Khaplang faction of NSCN is likely to land in the Capital next week to ratify the ground rules of the ceasefire.
The signing of the modified draft ground rules has been overshadowed by Myanmar Government?s nod to conduct flush out operations and impending arrival of the rival NSCN (I-M) leaders in India. The Khaplang faction is likely to be hit the most by the junta?s action and is keeping a close watch on developments in Delhi.
Finance minister of the Khaplang faction and member of the Ceasefire Supervisory Board, Kughalu Mulatonu, who was in Delhi when Chairman of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Senior General Than Shwe arrived, told this newspaper that they were not going to plead with Government of India to call-off the operations but if Delhi wants to show its good intentions then it should put it on hold.
A joint declaration signed yesterday by India and Myanmar, at the end of the visit of senior General Than Shwe, said that the two sides agreed that maintenance of peace and security along the border areas was an essential pre-requisite to successful implementation of cross-border projects and to bringing about economic prosperity in the area. Both sides reiterated their firm determination to maintaining peace, stability and tranquillity along the entire length of their common border.
The Myanmar side reiterated that it would not allow insurgent activities against India from its soil. Both sides agreed to take necessary steps to prevent cross border crimes, including drug trafficking and arms smuggling, and to upgrade substantially bilateral cooperation in this context.
The chief of the Khaplang faction, meanwhile, has already written to the Prime Minister requesting him not to go ahead with the operations. ?We will not ask Government of India to call off the joint operations but it would not be possible for us to come for talks as long as the action is on,? said Mulatonu, who is busy meeting officials of the Central Government.
?In any case massive force deployment was on since June and Myanmar Army has deployed over 1,000 soldiers in the area around camps belonging to Khaplang faction and currently there is heavy movement of army on both sides of the border,? said the finance minister. What is significant is that the Khaplang faction has sheltered 300-400 ULFA cadres in their camps in Myanmar, which would be target of the security forces.
A delegation of the Khaplang faction, meanwhile, is expected to arrive to sign the draft ground rules. ?We want the signing to take place as early as possible to ensure that it does not clash with arrival of the I-M leaders,? Mulatonu said. The modification of the ground rules became necessary because some of the clauses had become irrelevant. But the Mulatonu declined to divulge the details of draft agreement.
The Khaplang also is waiting for Government of India to start peace negotiations with them. The issue has been like a thorn in the flesh for the Khaplang faction, as under apparent pressure of the NSCN (I-M), the Centre has restrained itself from starting a peace dialogue though a ceasefire has been one since April 2001. ?A political dialogue would start only when Government of India invites us bilaterally,? he said.
?We do not want any status from Government of India. We want to make it clear that we represent the Nagas and not the other organisation,? the Khaplang faction leader said. On the possible Nagaland visit by the rival I-M leaders including chairman and general secretary, Isaac Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah, he said that they had no objection but they must first come clean on the seven years of negotiations held with Government of India. ?We have no objection to their visit. We will react according to the demand of the Naga people,? he said.