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NEWSNOTES
 K.
Padmanabhiah, former home secretary and the Government's chief interlocutor
with the NSCN since 1999, debunks fears raised by the latest cease-fire.
Q. Was the cease-fire proposal thought through?
A.
The offer to extend the cease-fire beyond Nagaland is three years old.
We did a lot of spadework before accepting it. In January, we drew up
stringent ground rules for observing truce. This is the only cease-fire
in the country in which such ground rules have been laid.
Q. Did the Government capitulate to the NSCN?
A. In
May, the NSCN felt there was no point in talking to us. They began withdrawing
into the jungles. The advantages of the four-year-old truce were on the
verge of going down the tube.
Q. What have been the gains of the cease-fire?
A.
The level of violence in Nagaland has come down. It is only a quarter
of what it was four years ago. However extortion increased. The NSCN has
agreed to prevent it.
Q. Why did the truce raise Manipur's fears?
A.
Cease-fire is a military concept and has no connection with claims to
territory. This has been made clear to the NSCN.
Q. Would installing a government in Imphal
help?
A.
All I will say is put the matter in correct perspective.
--Lakshmi Iyer
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