People's Democracy

The Assam State Committee of the CPI(M) has issued the following statement on the extension of areas of the ceasefire agreement with NSCN(I-M) by the Union government.

The Assam state committee of the CPI(M), while welcoming the extension of the cease-fire agreement with the NSCN (I-M) by the union government for a year till May 31, 2002, expresses its grave concern over the extension of the cease-fire areas to other N E sates such as Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. By agreeing to extend the cease-fire areas, the Union government has practically yielded to the pressure tactics of the NSCN(I-M). It is rightly apprehended that taking cover of this agreement, the extremist Naga outfit would be able to spread and continue all sorts of illegal operations in the neighbouring states without any hindrance. Such activities will only boost the extremist activities in these sates including Assam.

The Assam state committee has also noted that the BJP-led central government has unilaterally struck this agreement without trying to involve the state governments of this region on such important matters affecting the peace and unity of these states, thus undermining the autonomy of the states.

The CPI(M) expresses its opposition to such agreement which allows the extremist outfits to spread its operations freely in Assam, disturbing peace and development and urges upon the people of Assam to raise its voice of protest against such measures by the BJP-led central government.