Nagaland Government not to invoke POTA

Kohima, April 12: The Nagaland government said it would not invoke the recently passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002 into Nagaland. "It is up to us whether to use it (POTA) and also we have sufficient laws like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 to deal with any unlawful activities including insurgency in the state", Nagaland Planning Minister S Imtisungeet Jamir told this writer on Saturday. "Moreover it is not appropriate to use the Act (POTA) in Nagaland as the two factions of the NSCN are currently having ceasefire with the Government of India". The Government of India cannot impose any law passed in parliament in respect of land and resources, customary practices, etc to Nagaland unless it is passed again by the Nagaland Assembly as per Article 371A of the Indian Constitution. Although the Government of India has the Naga underground outfits not listed as terrorist organizations under the controversial draconian POTA, the NSCN has already been banned by the Government (India) as outlawed. And the Isak Muivah faction of the NSCN has been vigorously demanding the Government of India to lift the ban for smooth passage of the ongoing political negotiations between them. The NSCN (IM) has already given positive response to he invitation of the Indian Prime Minister Atal ehari Vajpayee to have political talks in Indian soil. But the former has set conditions that ban on them be lifted before such moves as a prerequisite for the talks in Indian soil. The Government of India is yet to give response on the outfit's demand. On the other hand, the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and the both factions of the NSCN is likely to gain its momentum in the wake of the Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir's offering of safe passage to the collective leadership of the NSCN(IM), Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah to facilitate to returning to their home soil to facilitate and examine the ground realities prevailing here. The Chief Minister made this surprised announcement of withdrawing arrest warrant issued against the top NSCN (IM) leaderships during a recent public gathering at Pughoboto, which is also the birthplace of Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman of the outfit. Pughoboto is a sub-division under Nagaland's Zunheboto. "I am prepared to forgive everyone for whatever they have done to me", announced Jamir who has escaped number of assassination bids on his life in the past. It may be mentioned that the State government had issued arrest warrants against the top NSCN (IM) leadership when the Chief Minister was ambushed by the NSCN (IM) even after the announcement of the "Ceasefire Agreement" between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) on November 29, 1999 which, the outfit denied. "They attempted 3-4 times to kill me but in the interest of all Nagas, I have forgiven them", he added. He also appealed to both the NSCN (IM) leaders to return to their home soil and initiate discussions with the Naga people living here at home and further expressed that "unless Nagas were united, no solution could be hammered out". He however regretted of the lost of over 400 Nagas during the four-year ceasefire period due to factional clashes which brought lot of hardships to the families. He said they could not afford to make the families weep for their lost ones anymore. Jamir said he had never said the 16-Point Agreement of 1960 was final political settlement for the Nagas but only said Nagas should first come and unite to find a solution. Rejecting the charges made by NSCN(IM) that he was the main obstacle towards the Naga political solution with the Centre, Jamir said it was he and his party that paved the way for the ongoing ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM). He reminded once the political settlement could be arrived at between the Government of India and the Naga underground organizations in near future, he and his party would not be any obstacle while also denying that he patronized NSCN (K) and NNC and however pointed out that they always treated all Naga people as an inalienable part of the Naga society.