Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Kohima, February 21 2009:
The rival groups of NSCN have agreed to abstain from fighting and maintain ceasefire at least for the next one week in view of the two-day Naga convention for peace and reconciliation which began here this evening.
Office bearers of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), organiser of the convention at the Kohima local ground, said both NSCN(I-M) and GPRN/NSCN agreed to abstain from any armed clashes and maintain ceasefire from Feb 20-28 .
The convention aims at making the ongoing peace and reconciliation campaign more inclusive, inviting all Naga tribes and churches of different denominations from Nagainhabited areas of North-East.
FNR, comprising churches, tribal councils and civil society organisations, had initiated the campaign "Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope" a year ago at the height of factional killings among UG groups in Nagaland to bring an end to the situation so that the Nagas can present a unified voice to resolve the decades-long Naga political conflict through dialogues.
Since then the forum had a series of consultations with leaders of rival underground factions and organised many events bringing in cadres from rival camps to a common platform, resulting in scaling down of killings in the State.