Naga Church body for restraint during truce

KOHIMA, March 19: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Monday said the suspension of the Special Armed Forces Act by the Centre and the NSCN(IM)'s decision to abstain from 'extortion' will lead to truce in the area, reports UNI. The NBCC, in a release issued by its general secretary Rev Zhau Terhuja, said the people were awaiting an outcome of the ceasefire declaration by the Centre. He lamented that both the security forces and the NSCN(IM) were accusing each other of violation of ground rules. Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor O P Sharma on March 13 said that the people were keen to have a lasting peace in the State and called for a concerned move to achieve the goal. Addressing the Budget session of the ninth Assembly which met here in the morning, Sharma said that time has come to move with determination on the path of peace, progress and prosperity. The governor also reminded the responsibility of the politicians and collective initiatives for the betterment of the people. "The people should benefit from the wise and judicious policies formulated through collective wisdom of the House," Sharma said. He also called upon the members to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges of the future with sagacity, foresight and courage. The Governor said the people of the State were tired of bloodshed and now they were looking for a lasting peace. He said with the ceasefire with NSCN(IM) continuing for the fourth year, the Centre was also actively considering another ceasefire agreement with the remaining factions like the NSCN(K) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (fgn/nNc). The State government also urged the Centre and the underground organisations to expedite the process for peace accord. Later, the house moved the motion of thanks of the Governor's address.