The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has accused Indian security forces of violating the Agreed Ground Rules of the ongoing ceasefire, alleging that three of its cadres were killed on May 29 in an incident at NC Hills (ELOI HAU Battalion, present-day Assam), a region the group refers to as part of “Nagalim (Naga-territory).”
In a press statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Publicity of the GPRN (Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim), the NSCN said it “express[es] our deepest concern over the violation of the Agreed Ground Rules Cease-fire by Government of India (GoI)… by the illegal occupation Indian force.” It described the incident as “a deliberate breach of the jointly established Agreed Ground Rules to maintain peace during the sensitive ongoing political negotiation period.”
The group cited Clause (a) of the ceasefire agreement, which it claims prohibits “offensive operations like ambush, raid and attack leading to death/damage or loss of property against the NSCN by the Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces and the Police.”
According to the NSCN, the Indian forces disregarded this clause by “launching an unprovoked attack on the Naga Army base in Naga-territory,” which it said now “posed a serious threat to ongoing peace efforts.”
Calling the Indian state’s actions “hostile,” the statement urged the Government of India “to immediately cease all hostile activities, respect the terms of the ceasefire and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation.”
It further appealed to “the international community and relevant monitoring bodies to take note of this serious violation and support efforts to restore and uphold the ceasefire so that a negotiated political agreement should be arrived at.”
While reaffirming its commitment to peace, the NSCN concluded with a warning: “Our commitment to peace remains unshaken, but we reserve the right to take all means necessary and measures to protect our people and territory in the face of aggression.”
We salute these martyrs who laid down their precious lives on the line of duty in defense of our land and our rights,” it stated.
Drawing attention to the Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement first declared in 1997, the Naga Army emphasized that “the essence of self-restraint among the combatants and showing mutual respect between the opposing camps was instilled primarily to create conducive atmosphere for peace parley.” It stressed that the ceasefire must not be applied selectively, adding, “it does not make sense to be fighting in one place and talking peace in another place at the same time.”
The group referred to a joint statement issued on June 14, 2001, which clarified that “the ceasefire agreement was between the government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits.” On this basis, the Naga Army argued that its camps “exist and operate in all Naga inhabited areas, maintaining the ground rules of ceasefire agreement.”
However, the statement lamented that “Indian security forces had in the past, repeatedly violated this very spirit of ceasefire on one pretext or the other,” calling such actions “a reprehensible violation and unilateral abrogation of ceasefire agreement, a betrayal of diplomatic efforts and deliberate undermining of the ongoing peace initiatives.”
In a pointed remark, the Naga Army said, “It is high time the Government of India spell out loud and clear whether there is ceasefire in Naga areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and accordingly we will deem these areas as conflict zones if so desired.”
The statement was signed by Brig H Sumi-MSM, Director of PIB, Naga Army, and Lieut Col S Vurkhan-MSM, Assistant Director of PIB, Naga Army.
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