GPRN/NSCN extends ceasefire, refuses to join Naga peace accord

The GPRN/NSCN, one of the strongest factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, on Monday extended its ceasefire with the Indian government for another year, but made it clear that it won't be joining the Naga peace accord as the pact is an understanding between the government and the NSCN-IM.

The GPRN/NSCN -- which also goes by the name of NSCN (Unification) -- said the ongoing peace process was not suitable or acceptable comprehensively for the other Naga stakeholders.

The move may come as a jolt to the Indian government, which has been trying to bring all the factions of the NSCN onboard the peace accord inked between the government and the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) on August 3, 2015.

"The GPRN/NSCN, under the leadership of Khitovi Zhimomi and Gen. Neokpao Konyak, has fundamentally agreed in principle to bring about lasting and meaningful peace in Nagaland with the Naga People.

"Therefore, we cannot simply jump into the present arrangement, which is the Naga peace process, since we have also entered into a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the government with unique political dispersions and unique a political dimensions," Jack Zhimomi, supervisor of the GPRN/NSCN ceasefire supervisory board, told IANS.

The GPRN/NSCN and NSCN (Reformation) extended the ceasefire with the Indian government in the presence of senior home ministry officials in Delhi.

Separate meetings were held with the factions, considering the rivalry between them.

According to the letter of the ceasefire extension, a copy of which is with IANS, the ceasefire has been extended till April 27, 2017.

"Government of India and GPRN/NSCN have mutually decided to extend the ceasefire agreement with affect from April 28, 2016 for a period of one more year i.e. April 27, 2017 to bring about a lasting peace in the state of Nagaland with the involvement of Naga people," reads the letter.

On their new decision, Zhimomi said that as the government was already involved in a peace process with the NSCN-IM, it was "impossible" for the other stakeholders to join the process.

"For the past many years, the present arrangement (peace process) is exclusively in parlance with one particular group (NSCN-IM) and not others. So therefore, what I feel is that the term inclusive, which the government is referring to as far as the Naga accord is concerned, is neither tenable nor applicable," said Zhimomi.