NEW DELHI, March 31: In a significant development, the union home minister, LK Advani is rushing to Arunachal Pradesh on April 2, to take stock of the situation in the state arising out of increasing activities of the NSCN(K) faction, highly placed sources in the ministry of home affairs told The Assam Tribune, here today. The decision to fly down to the state was taken at an emergent meeting here at the North Block, following a report from the Arunachal Pradesh governor, Arvind Dave. Though sources declined to divulge the contents of the report, indications are the governor has requested the union home minister to visit the state. The Arunachal Pradesh governor has reportedly mentioned about activities of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN in the state following a massive crackdown on the outfit by the Myanmar army. Several top-notch leaders accompanied by hundreds of cadres were reported to have sneaked into the state, leading to tensions in few districts. But Advani's visit assumes significance for more than one reason, as he has been hinting on the possibility of bringing the Khaplang faction on board the peace negotiations process. Though the NSCN(IM) faction has been vehemently opposing the idea of joining talks with the Khaplang faction, their arch rival, the union home minister recently at Tripura, threw enough hints to suggest the Centre was not averse to the idea. Centre, incidentally, also had a ceasefire agreement with the Khaplang faction. Though it is yet to be formalised in the sense that the ground rules for ceasefire agreement and the joint monitoring group are yet to be finalised. The Nagaland government, the sources in ministry said, has been pressuring the Centre to start negotiations with the Khaplang faction as well, as they claim that for a resolution of Naga problem, all the major outfits have be a party to the agreement. (Staff correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 1, 2000)

MON (NAGALAND), March 31: The Centre is likely to strike a peace accord with NSCN(K) by next week to pave the way for political discussions to settle the Naga political problem. The militant outfit had already expressed its desire to hold talks with the Centre and sent feelers to the union home ministry in this regards. The Centre also realised that the vexed Naga problem can't be solved amicably unless all the underground groups come into negotiation table. According to intelligence sources, home minister LK Advani, leading ministry officials, is likely to meet the NSCN(K) leaders somewhere in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, a strong hold of the outfit. The sources also confirmed that NSCN(K) chairman SS Khaplang has been taking shelter somewhere in these two district after the outfit received severe setback in the face of fierce offensive launched by Myanmarese junta in northern Myanmar last month. The junta had attacked the camps of the Northeast militant outfits, forcing them to sneak into Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. NSCN(K), ULFA, PLA, UNLF among six outfits of the region have their joint training camps as well hideouts in northern Myanmar adjoining Nagaland. The Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir also last week talking to newsmen here confirmed that the Centre was contemplating to extend ceasefire to NSCN(K) as the outfit sent feelers to the home ministry expressing their desire to hold political talks. Jamir during the meeting with the Prime minister and the home minister on March 25 at New Delhi reiterated that all Naga underground groups should be involved in the on-going peace process as no tangible solution could be found by holding talks with one group. Jamir and state governor OP Sharma were invited by the Centre to hold "consultations" on Naga peace process. The Chief Minister also clarified that the state government is an "indirect party" to the talks between the Centre and Naga undergrounds. Although the Centre struck a peace deal with NSCN(IM) in August 1997 and the informal peace talks continued with the outfit. So far NSCN(K) has been kept out of this process. Only as local arrangement the security forces offered unilateral cessation of hostility to NSCN(K) for maintaining a congenial atmosphere in Nagaland. Although NSCN(K) has not officially reciprocated to the Army's offer, no arms confrontation between the outfit and the security forces were reported from any part of the state in the last two years. Meanwhile, the union home ministry is also organising a two-day seminar at Mon in the second week of April, where officials from different Central Ministries are likely to take part. Although ostensibly the seminar is on development issues, the intelligence sources pointed out on the sideline of it. The home ministry officials led by GK Pillai will definitely avail the opportunity to talk to NSCN(K) there. The Mon being a stronghold of NSCN(K) is the most suitable place in Nagaland to hold discussions with the outfit, the sources pointed out. The sources also said, Advani will be accompanied by senior officials of home ministry, Intelligence Bureau (IB), paramilitary forces and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) during his visit to Arunachal Pradesh. The peace deal is likely to be on line on Wednesday's tripartite agreement among the Centre, Assam government and BLTF. During his mission, Advani is all set to convince the NSCN(K) leaders to agree to a tripartite peace deal unlike one with NSCN(IM). Jamir government obviously will be happy to be a part of this imminent fresh peace deal, but NSCN(K) agrees to such arrangement or not is the moot question. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 1, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 1: The NSCN(K) has held the Naga Hoho responsible for sharp divisions among the Nagas. Accusing the Naga Hoho of trying to coil the Naga tribes into confusion, NSCN (GPRN) deputy kilonser (minister) for information and publicity affairs Mughalu Mulatonu said in a release the present Naga Hoho has miserably failed to defend its smaller units and the Ao Senden (Ao Hoho) was the proof that it was doing nothing but pursuing follow-up agenda of a certain umbrella. He said the Naga Hoho's progress was only devoted to southern Nagaland. Because the southern Nagas and eastern Nagas were not covered, the Naga Hoho was not concerned about them, he alleged. He demanded that the Naga Hoho should be dissolved immediately as it cannot take decision for the Nagas as the majority of the tribes were not with Hoho. The Naga Hoho should, therefore, strengthen its structure and then only come out with an agenda, he said. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 2, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 3: A top Naga rebel has moved Gauhati High Court against the Mizoram police seeking compensation for the alleged torture he had to undergo for seven days while in custody. Gapumkhai Muivah Grinder, nephew of NSCN(IM) general secretary T Muivah, was arrested by the police on March 4 at Calcutta airport on charges of planning to hijack an aircraft from Mizoram's Lengpui airport. But he was released on bail by a Mizoram court on March 14 owing to lack of evidence. In a writ filed in Gauhati High Court, Grinder has also requested that the FIR lodged against him also be quashed. According to officials in the home department, the state police was also contemplating to file a representation to counter the writ. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 4, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 9: In a major boost to efforts to end insurgency in Nagaland, outlawed NSCN(K) today announced a ceasefire with the Centre for the first time since the militant outfit began operations just over a decade ago. "NSCN has decided to have formal ceasefire with the government in Naga-inhabited areas to fulfil the demand of the Nagas for peace and thereafter a permanent political settlement," an NSCN(K) release issued by its information and publicity wing in-charge Kughalo Mulatonu said. The NSCN(K) had already expressed its desire to hold talks with the Centre and demanded that government lift the ban on the outfit and withdraw "black laws" like Armed Force (Special Power) Act from Naga-inhabited areas. The Nagaland government has also been insisting that the Centre extend the ceasefire to all underground groups and include all factions in the peace talks. NSCN(K) is the second Naga insurgent outfit after NSCN(IM) to firm up truce with the Centre seeking to end the two-decade-old militancy in the state. 'The Centre and NSCN(IM) had signed the ceasefire agreement in August 1997 which expires in July. The Naga insurgency movement split in 1988 into NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K). 'NSCN(K) sources said a high-level meeting of the outfit would be held very soon to finalise the modalities for the formal ceasefire. 'The NSCN(K) decision came less than two weeks after Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir held talks with Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and some other senior central leaders and officials on broadbasing the Naga peace talks. Peace talks with the NSCN(IM) appeared to have run into uncertainty with the arrest of its chief T Muivah in Thailand. The NSCN has decided to invite prominent Nagas for a meeting to express their views and opinions on the ceasefire and political talks, the sources said. As a local arrangement, the security forces had extended unilateral ceasefire to the NSCN(K) too which expires on April 15. Although NSCN(K) had not officially reciprocated to the ceasefire offer, there was no report of any clash between security forces and the underground outfit in Nagaland in the last two years. However, NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K) continued to confront each other despite repeated appeals by the government and various NGOs to shun the path in the interest of peace. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 10, 2000)

MON, April 10: With NSCN(K) announcing a formal ceasefire with the Centre, the current peace process for settlement of decades-old Naga political problem has entered into its most crucial phase. The people at large are quite perplexed with yesterday's announcement - whether the imminent peace deal between the Centre and NSCN(K) would ensure a congenial atmosphere in insurgency-hit Nagaland or it would be another mockery, in the name of ceasefire. There is no end to hostilities by the militant groups and extortion, killings and kidnappings are going on even after two years and eight months of ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN(IM). All appeals to the militants to shun hostilities went unheeded with increasing cases of violation of ceasefire ground rules by the rebels. Both the state government and the NGOs had insisted on bilateral ceasefire between the rival underground factions rather than with the government forces. Although the union home ministry had already hinted about a possible peace deal between the Centre and NSCN(K), the banned outfit yesterday announced that it has decided to have formal truce with New Delhi very soon and modalities of such a ceasefire are being worked out. But NSCN(K) has categorically stated that it wanted to have direct peace talks with the Centre without the interference of "middlemen" or the S C Jamir government, which might be approached by the home ministry to be a part of the fresh deal in offing. NSCN(K) sources said the outfit will soon organise a public meeting to elicit people's opinions on the imminent ceasefire with the Centre and the follow-up political-level peace talks for resolving the problem. However, the question that is perplexing the people here is whether the Centre will hold talks with the two factions of NSCN separately or would it be able to bring both groups to the same negotiation table. The general feeling among the people is the possibility of bringing them together in near future is remote as the ground situation does not favour such an outcome. Because after the assassination attempt on the life of Chief Minister SC Jamir on November 29, last year a series of events have taken place in Nagaland which have far-reaching political consequences. Naga society in general is virtually split over the question of integration of Naga-inhabited areas, particularly hill districts of Manipur, strongly propagated by NSCN(IM). Both the S C Jamir government and the ruling Congress have described the NSCN(IM) leadership as "outsiders", asserting that Naga political problem must be solved by the "Nagas of Nagaland." It is a fact that the NSCN(IM) leadership comprises of Tangkhuls, a Manipuri Naga tribe from Ukhrul district, except for its chairman Isak Chishi Swu, who belongs to the Sema tribe from Nagaland's Zunheboto district. The Jamir government has also tried its level best to reap political mileage from the NSCN(IM)'s inability to depute some one to carry on political talks with the Centre after the imprisonment of Thuingaleng Muivah at Bangkok in January last. Jamir had recently alleged that there is no inner democracy in NSCN(IM) and the outfit is basically a "one-man-show" because it failed to select a representative for further political talks with the Centre. The union home minister LK Advani also recently said the talk process with NSCN(IM) was stalled because of the outfit's failure to depute someone after Muivah's imprisonment. In the meantime, the apex tribal council, Naga Hoho also received a severe setback when three major tribal organisations severed their ties with the Council on the eve of its 7th general convention at Ukhrul (Manipur) from tomorrow. The unification among the rebel groups, for which it has been working, is the main agenda of the Hoho convention. But both the Jamir government and NSCN(K) have charged the Naga Hoho of toeing the NSCN(IM) line and have found no justification of organising the convention at Ukhrul. NSCN(K) publicity in-charge in a statement clarified that "Naga problem must be resolved by the Nagas, but not by outsiders (read NSCN(IM)." On the other hand, NSCN(IM) has been maintaining that NSCN(K) was working as "stooge" of S C Jamir government and the Centre to sabotage the ongoing peace process in Nagaland. Under such circumstances, when the rebel groups are adopting belligerent gestures, the general opinion is that the Centre should move very cautiously to kickstart the virtually stalled dialogue process to thrash out an amicable solution to the vexed problem. Meanwhile, the union home ministry is organising a two-day seminar at Mon and Tuensang on April 12 and 13 respectively. The Chief Minister will inaugurate the seminar at both places, first of its kind in these two backward districts, bordering Myanmar. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 11, 2000)

o SS Khaplang, Isak Swu, T Muivah and others defect from Naga National Council (NNC) rejecting 1975 Shillong Accord and form national Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980. o NSCN splits - one faction led by SS Khaplang, a Burmese Naga, other group led by Isak Swu and T Muivah. o With the split, a series of killings, factional hostility begin, throwing law and order out of gear in Nagaland. o state government invokes Disturbed Area Act and Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, security forces start launching operations against both the factions. With every day armed confrontation between militants and security forces increase, normal life affected while rebels continue extortion spree. o With initiatives of churches and others, NSCN(IM) agrees for a cessation of hostility, and a truce between the Centre and the rebel outfit comes into effect on August 1, 1997. o NSCN(K) is left out of the peace process, but NGOs and state government appeal to the outfit to enter into peace deal with the Centre. o Nagaland celebrates sesquicentennial (125 years) of Christianity in November 1997, and security forces offer unilateral ceasefire to NSCN(K) to facilitate the peace process. But NSCN(K) did not officially reciprocate to the offer. o NSCN(K) abrogates the unilateral ceasefire, ambushing security force patrols at Kiphire (Tuensang) and Mokokchung in April 1998. Security forces recommences operations against the outfit. o With public pressure the ceasefire is once again extended to NSCN(K) by security forces in October 1998 for three months and later extended periodically. NSCN(K) is yet to reciprocate the ceasefire offer, which expires on April 15 next. o Although there is no official reciprocation to truce offer, no reports of arm conflicts involving security forces and NSCN(K) received from any parts of Nagaland Since October 1998. o Hostility between rival factions of NSCN continues unabated even after the ceasefire came into effect in August 1997. o Naga Hoho and other NGOs have been trying for unity and understanding among underground factions, even met their leaders at Bangkok and Northern Myanmar in 1998 and 1999. o NSCN(K) receives setback when its general secretary Dally Mungro is assassinated near Kohima in August 1999 by its rival NSCN(IM). o NSCN(K) expresses its willingness for political negotiation and starts parleys with Centre at different level for last two months. o After an assassination bid on Chief Minister SC Jamir's life in November last and imprisonment of T Muivah, Nagaland government also mount pressure on Centre to include all militant groups in the on-going peace process. o NSCN(K) yesterday announced its decision to have formal ceasefire with the Centre to pave way for negotiated settlement of 50-year-long Naga political problem. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 11, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 10: Nagaland deputy speaker Joshua Sumi has expressed deep gratitude to those international organisations which have recognised the Naga issue as a "genuine problem". Sumi said the international bodies are genuinely concerned over the bloodshed in the state and want a solution to the impasse. Several international organisations, including several US Congressmen have strongly appealed to the Thailand prime minister, Chaun Leepkai, to immediately release the jailed NSCN(IM) general secretary, T Muivah, so that peace talks between the outfit and the centre is not stalled. Muivah was arrested and put behind the bars for allegedly possessing forged passports at the time of his arrest in Thailand. Joshua claimed that not only international organisations, but several India-based organisations have voiced their concern and have sought an amicable to the age-old Naga political impasse. Stating that unity is a prerequisite for a solution to the stalemate, the deputy speaker observed that the division among the Naga militants have further widened the gap amongst the Nagas. Stating that the Naga Hoho is working for the unification of the Naga warring factions and pressuring Delhi to continue talks with the NSCN(IM), Joshua urged the Naga church leaders to take over the burden from the Hoho. Commenting on the ongoing ceasefire between the NSCN(IM) and the centre, Joshua said that it has become a license to the former to carry out killings but added that since the ambush on the Chief Minister SC Jamir's motorcade in last November, the militant group has cooled down. He also appreciated the NSCN(K)'s decision to join the peace process, and said it is a positive sign towards peace in the trouble-torn Nagaland. (Corresponednt; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 10: The outlawed ULFA is now in a dilemma as the two major insurgent groups in the region - NSCN(K) and NSCN(IM) have agreed to the ceasefire. While the NSCN(IM) made a ceasefire agreement with the centre more than a year ago, the other group NSCN(K) had announced their decision on Sunday to do so. The ULFA suffered a set back as a good number of their activists including some senior members, deserted the organisation and came overground. The ULFA since its formation in 1979 had grown with the help of NSCN(IM) and received arms training from them. After the NSCN(IM) agreed to have a ceasefire with the centre, the ULFA then struck an alliance with the NSCN(K). But now with the NSCN(K) also agreeing to a truce with the central government, the ULFA is all left alone. Meanwhile, another militant organisation the NDFB is also facing trouble as another Bodo militant organisation BLTF had already negotiated with the centre on their problems. On the other hand, the security forces involved in the counter-insurgency operation have stepped up operation on both the outlawed ULFA and NDFB. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 11: In a bid to broadbase the current phase of peace process in Nagaland and involve the people-both Nagas and people from the mainland India-Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has launched a new initiative called 'A Journey of Conscience'. According to an NPMHR press release received here on Tuesday, the journey began symbolically from Gandhi Samadhi where a group of Nagas sat with their compatriots and prayed on January 30 this year. The release said it feels the "need for constructive intervention by the people towards consolidating the peace process." It is of the view that for any viable political solution to emerge and lead to "sustainable peace", the current phase must transcend the confines of the negotiating room and engage the people. Recalling the violent history of Nagaland, the release said none of the accords signed earlier failed to deliver as they were through "coercion, division, manipulation." Also, according to the organisation, the fault of the earlier peace initiatives lies in the fact that the Nagas approached only the government of India for seeking solution. And this resulted in bureaucracy dealing with the problem which "failed to touch the core issues." But, for any lasting solution, people from the mainland too has to be involved, and with this objective in mind the initiative has been launched. The journey that will traverse "various parts of the Indian subcontinent" will try to reach out to the minds and hearts of the people. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 12: The Gauhati High Court today directed the Mizoram government to constitute a committee comprising the state home secretary, Law secretary and director-general of Police (DGP) within ten days to go into the case of alleged torture, violation of CrPC and allegation of false implication of G Grinder Muivah, nephew of arrested NSCN(IM) general secretary T Muivah. G Grinder Muivah was arrested by the police at Calcutta Airport on March 4 last immediately after his arrival from Bangkok and was charged with conspiring to hijack an aircraft from the Lengpui Airport in Mizoram in order to secure the release of NSCN(IM) general secretary T Muivah, currently lodged in Thailand jail. In a writ petition submitted before the Gauhati High Court, G Grinder Muivah, drew its attention on the 'insidious way' in which he is sought to be implicated in a criminal case in violation of his fundamental rights. Moreover, the petitioner maintains that the attempt to implicate him in a false case 'by vested interests' is aimed at 'subverting the hard-earned Indo-Naga ceasefire and peace process.' While submitting the petition before the High Court, the counsel for the petitioner Nandita Haksar stated that the only piece of so-called evidence against G Grinder Muivah is a statement made by one K Ranju Rangan under duress and compulsion to the police and the said statement has been retracted before the 1st Class Magistrate in Aizawl. Despite this, the respondents, including the state of Mizoram have referred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the petition stated. The petitioner's counsel submitted before the court that G Grinder Muivah is a victim of some conspiracy aimed at implicating him falsely in criminal cases putting his life and liberty in danger. According to the petition, G Grinder Muivah is not a member of any underground organisation, but a contractor by profession having his permanent residence at Imphal. He later shifted to Noida near Delhi in connection with the present peace process involving NSCN(IM). Four days after his arrest at Calcutta Airport, the petitioner was taken to Aizawl on March 8 last and remanded to police custody for 48 hours. His valid and legal passport and travel documents were seized. On March 10 the 1st Class Magistrate, Aizawl, remanded the petitioner to judicial custody till March 24. However, on March 14 he was released on bail and subsequently discharged from personal appearance. This was because on March 13 Ranju Rangan made a statement before the magistrate that he was brutally tortured and was forced to implicate G Grinder Muivah in a false case. Rangan told the magistrate that he was tortured by Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) officials while he was in police custody at the Aizawl police station from February 15 to 21. In view of the circumstances, the petitioner's counsel Haksar prayed before the court that the respondents be directed to constitute a committee comprising the Mizoram home secretary, Law secretary and the director-general of Police (DGP) within ten days to go into the case of torture, violation of CrPC and allegation of false implication of the petitioner and also in regard to arrest, interrogation and detention of the petitioner. As per the prayer, a single Bench of the High Court comprising Justice AK Patnaik in his order directed the Mizoram government to constitute a committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report before the High Court by May 2 next. The respondents were represented at the hearing in the court by the Mizoram advocate-general Pranab Pathak. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 13, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 12: The Guwahati High Court on Wednesday ordered the Mizoram government to prove allegation of a false implication of the main accused, Grinder Muivah, in the alleged conspiracy to hijack an Indian Airlines plane from the Langpui Airport of Aizawl. Muivah, a businessman relative of NSCN(IM) supremo T Muviah, submitted before the Guwahati High Court that he was innocent and wrongly picked up and tortured in the custody besides being falsely implicated basing on an alleged confession of another accused, K Ranju Rangan. Justice AK Patnaik heard the submission of Nandita Haskar on behalf of Muivah and asked the Mizoram government to prove the allegation of false implication. She submitted that Rangan was forced by Mizo police to confess that he had planned to hijack a plane from Langpui airport in a bid to secure release of the arrested NSCN leader T Muviah in Thailand. Muivah denied all charges saying that Rangan was forced to confess. Notably, Rangan later at the court retracted his statement saying that he was forced to admit and accordingly the lower court had granted him bail too. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 13, 2000)

MON (Nagaland), April 13: An NSCN(K) activist was killed and another injured today when both factions of the NSCN engaged in an hour-long exchange of fire inside a jungle in Mon district near the Assam-Nagaland border, police sources said here, reports PTI. The incident, the first of its kind in this Konyak tribe inhabited district of Nagaland, triggered simmering tension in Tizit area of the district following the incident. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 15: Mizoram government has instituted an inquiry to probe issues pertaining to the alleged attempt to hijack an Indian Airlines plane from Lengpui airport here by the nephew of NSCN(IM) leader T Muivah to demand his release from a Thai jail, a top government official said on Friday. Muivah was arrested in Thailand earlier this year for allegedly travelling on fake documents. Mizoram chief secretary HV Laalringa told PTI that the probe committee included himself, Law secretary P Chakraborty and director-general of Police M Tumsanga and would submit its report by May 2. Lalringa, who is also in charge of home department, said that the inquiry committee was constituted as per directions of Gauhati High Court, which on Wednesday admitted a writ petition filed by Gapumkhai Muivah (Grinder), Muivah's nephew and an accused in the alleged hijacking attempt. "Our probe would mainly concentrate on the alleged torture of another accused K Ranju Rangan while in custody," he said. Earlier, Grinder had submitted before the High Court that he was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case based on alleged confession by Rangan, who had allegedly gone to recce Lengpui airport in February posing as a director of civil aviation. He claimed that Rangan, on being tortured by the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau officials, was compelled to implicate him in the case. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 16, 2000)