NEW DELHI, April 26 ? The ceasefire between Government of India and NSCN (Khaplang) faction has been extended for another year, Union Home Minister, L K Advani announced this in the Lok Sabha here today. There have been discussions between the representatives of government of India and the NSCN (K). Both sides satisfied with the progress made so far in implementing the ceasefire. Both sides have, therefore, agreed to extend the ceasefire by a period of one year with effect from April 28, Sri Advani said in a brief statement. The Union Minister did not clarify whether the government proposed to start political dialogue with the Khaplang faction along the lines of negotiation with the I-M faction. Significantly, government is yet to appoint any interlocutor for negotiations with the Khaplang faction, though Home Ministry through Intelligence Bureau is currently directly negotiating with NSCN(K).
The government of India entered into a formal ceasefire pact with the NSCN(K) faction for a period of one year last April. Prior to that the army had an informal ceasefire agreement with the Naga outfit, which has close tie with outlawed ULFA and NDFB. The Union government is under pressure to involve all the underground groups in Nagaland in the peace process. The acid test for the government, however, would be to bring the two factions of the NSCN on the same negotiation table. The annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tabled earlier this week said that ceasefire with Khaplang faction would meet the long-standing demand of the people of Nagaland for entering into the ceasefire. This would also enlarge the area of peace in Nagaland, the report said. The report added that there have been persistent demands from the public in Nagaland, NGOs, church leaders and the State government that formal ceasefire should be entered into with Khaplang faction as well.
Meanwhile, modernisation of police forces scheme is likely to be extended till 2002-2003. The hundred percent centrally funded special scheme was started in 1997-1998 for five years. Central government during the period of the special scheme supplied arms and ammunition, vehicles, communication equipment and other essential equipment worth Rs 285 crore to the north eastern States. Meanwhile, the Central government during the last five years has released Rs 629.03 crore as reimbursement for security related expenditure. Of the six States, Assam has been released the highest amount of 419.79 crore as reimbursement during the period, the report said.