NSCNK ceasefire extended

The NSCNK was represented by a three-member delegation led by finance minister Kugalu Mulatanu. The government delegation included senior officials from the Home Ministry and chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell Lt GenRetd R V Kulkarni.

The meeting, lasting about an hour, was held at North Block. The NSCNKis one of the three insurgent outfits active in Nagaland. It mainly holds sway in Mon and Tuensang districts and the adjoining Naga inhabited territories in Myanmar known as the Sagaing Division.

8216;8216;The discussions were smooth and the extension was along expected lines,8217;8217; said Mulatanu after the meeting. He, however, refused to explain why the charter of demands has not yet been placed before the government as has been the case with most militant outfits in

the Northeast with whom the government has entered into a ceasefire agreement.

The outfit has voiced willingness to forge close ties among the Nagas inhabiting Nagaland and Myanmar, something similar to the demand of Greater Nagalim by its bete noire NSCNIM.

Mulatanu added that a few pending issues would be discussed in a subsequent meeting with the Home Ministry in the next few days. They have demanded revision of the ceasefire ground rules and removal of Kulkarni as cell chairman.

Clashes between the two NSCN factions have led to frequent murders in the past few years.