Insurgency / Manipur

IMPHAL, March 3: The proposed extension of the ceasefire between the NSCN(IM) and the Centre to other contiguous Naga-dominated areas of the Northeast has received a boost after Union home minister L. K. Advani yesterday hinted at getting "a positive response from the Chief Ministers of some states in the region." However, Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today opposed any move to extend the ceasefire to the Naga-inhabited areas of the state. In an official statement released from New Delhi, Koijam reportedly mooted the idea of a ceasefire with all the militant outfits of the Northeast...

IMPHAL, March 3: Contradictory to news reports, the state Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam has reiterated that Manipur's objection to the proposed extension of the three year-old ceasefire between the Government of India and Naga UGs, to Naga inhabited areas in the state still stands. Talking to mediapersons at the Chief Minister's secretariat, the health minister, Nimaichand Luwang speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister, who is now in Delhi, categorically denied that the Chief Minister had at any point during his talks with either the Prime Minister or the home minister gave any positive...

NEW DELHI, March 2 (PTI): In a bid to placate the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) in accepting two other Naga factions NSCN (Khaplang) and the Naga Federal Group (NFG) in the peace process, the Government today indicated that the three-year-old ceasefire could be extended to Naga inhabited areas in the neighbouring areas. The response from Assam and Manipur Chief ministers PK Mahanta and Radhabinod Koijam were positive, home minister LK Advani told reporters after the two Chief Ministers held separate meetings with him and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But it has been...

NEW DELHI, March 2: While reiterating its Opposition to the demand of extending the NSCN(IM) ceasefire to Naga inhabited areas of neighbouring States of Nagaland, Assam Government has requested the Centre to utilise the ceasefire to engage the other insurgent outfits in negotiations. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of his consensus building measure today held a meeting with the Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The Union Home Minister, LK Advani and top officials of his ministry also attended the meeting. The Prime Minister held similar meeting with the Chief Minister of...

GUWAHATI, March 3: Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam's first gambit in Manipur, a month-long unilateral ceasefire against separatist guerrillas in the state, began on Thursday. The move is being seen as an attempt by the government in the insurgency-hit state to build up public opinion in favour of peace and get the rebels to the negotiating table. The truce, coinciding with the Manipuri festival of colours called Yaoshang that begins next week, will apply to as many as 17 militant groups in the state that shares a porous border with Myanmar. "We are keen to evolve a negotiated and peaceful...

IMPHAL, March 2: With the unilateral ceasefire coming into effect since yesterday no untoward incident was reported from any part of the State today. According to police sources, since yesterday calm and a semblance of order has prevailed with no report of any shootouts or killing. Senior police officers informed the press that no report of any violence has come in ever since the ceasefire came into effect. However, except PREPAK, which had cocked a snook at the truce offer, no official response from any other underground organisations have been forthcoming till date, informed Higher Education...

IMPHAL, March 1: Thousands of Christians, mostly Nagas from the northwest border of Myanmar have been taking shelter in neighbouring Manipur and Nagaland for the last 2-3 years in fear of alleged religious discrimination and prosecutions carried out by the military junta of Myanmar. This was disclosed by L Longsa, general secretary of the Myanmar based Naga National League for Democracy (NNLD) which extends support to Aung San Suu Kyi. He said that the mass exodus will continue in the days to come as the military junta is intensifying it 'exercise of iron rule'. More than three thousand...

IMPHAL, March 1: The one month long unilateral ceasefire announced by the state government and the 15 day truce offered by the Army came into effect from today. With the truce coming into effect all counter insurgency operation both by the central forces and State police have been suspended. No report of arrest, encounter and killing was reported today. Mention may be made here that in an unprecedented move, the new Chief minister Radhabinod Koijam had announced the one-month long unilateral ceasefire during a packed press conference at the Officers' Club of 1st MR on February 27. The truce...

IMPHAL, March 1: The banned People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) today rejected the Radhabinod Koijam Government's ceasefire offer to all 17 insurgent outfits and suspension of counter-insurgency operations against them by the army in the State, reports PTI. The PREPAK in a statement here said, the government's offer was 'a trick' to all underground groups and underground cadres 'into lowering their guard.' The Chief Minister on February 27 had declared a month's ceasefire to the insurgent groups, effective from today, during which police and paramilitary forces would not carry...

IMPHAL, February 27: The Army has announced safe passage for all the insurgent groups operating in this border State during the 'Yaoshang' festival which commences from March 9. Addressing a press conference here at the historic Kangla Fort yesterday, the GOC of 57 Mountain Division, Major General Iqbal Singh, said that the suspension of operations against all the insurgent groups in Manipur will commence from March 1 and it will conclude on March 15. During the period, the Army and the Assam Rifles deployed in Manipur, will not carryout any operations against the insurgents, Iqbal said...