Kohima: Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG), Lt Gen Amarjeet Singh Bedi (Retd), on Saturday informed that the Government of India’s CFMG office took suo moto cognizance of media reports involving NSCN-K Khango’s death threat to a contractor.
The matter came to light when the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) raised the issue and declared non-cooperation towards the naga political group for ‘imposing’ death penalty/capital punishment on an Angami contractor over a case of illegal taxation.
Addressing a press conference at his office, Bedi said that ceasefire violations by any of the five Naga political groups in ceasefire with the Centre would not be tolerated. The Government of India has signed ceasefire agreements with five Naga groups over the years: NSCN (IM) in 1997, NSCN (U) in 2012, NSCN (R) in 2015, NSCN (Khango) in 2019, and NSCN (Nikki) in 2021.
The ceasefire mechanism functions as a collective forum to resolve varying perceptions and contentious issues of the Ceasefire Agreement amicably. This approach ensures a peaceful environment in Nagaland, facilitating the resolution of the Naga political issue.
With regard to the recent imbroglio involving the NSCN-K Khango, he said that although no formal complaint was received, the office has been closely monitoring the situation and holding the group accountable to the Ceasefire Ground Rules.
He pointed out two rules of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) signed between the NSCN-K Khango and the Centre which states that the group “will refrain from extortions, forcible collection of money and supplies and intimidation of individuals, including Government officials”.
Another clause of the CFGR, Bedi highlighted was that the NSCN-K Khango would “refrain from blockade of roads and communications and from any activity which would disturb the functioning of local and State Governments and of economic or developmental activities as well as essential services.”
The NSCN-K Khango had recently directed contractors under the purview of the AYO to cease and demobilise their manpower and machinery currently deployed across other districts in Nagaland.
He informed that facilities provided to the Naga political groups, in no way, gives them the immunity to act against the CFGR.
Bedi told journalists that the NSCN-K Khango group responded to the CFMG queries on August 31, submitting that their group functions on voluntary contributions and that their statements to the contractor concerned their government’s Yezhabo (Constitution) provisions were misinterpreted as life/capital punishment threats.
Subsequently, he informed that a meeting of the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB), comprising representatives from the state government, Nagaland Police, security agencies, and the NSCN-K Khango CFSB members, was held on Saturday morning to discuss the matter.
He reiterated that the Nagaland Police have registered a suo moto FIR and have been requested to conduct a thorough investigation. The NSCn-K Khango group assured the CFSB that they would adhere to all provisions of the Ceasefire Ground Rules and resolve the issue with the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO).
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Bedi added that the CFMG office can facilitate a discussion between the conflicting parties at its office so that that the matter can be amicably resolved.
Meanwhile, the state government informed that it has taken up the matter with the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Ceasefire Supervisory Board to ensure that the NSCN K -Khango and other groups adhere to the CFGR.
Also Read | Nagaland: Mass protest against illegal taxation, death threat on Aug 6