Imphal, July 23: The recent decision of the SPF Cabinet to work out a ground rule to declare a cease fire with different underground outfits, other than the two factions of the NSCN, has been welcomed in the political circle of the State.

Even as Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam sees the new development in a positive sense towards ushering in peace, on the other hand the powerful and influential UCM is of the opinion that nothing much can expected if the decade old truce between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) is taken into consideration.

Significantly, Radhabinod Koijam was the first and only Chief Minister till date to have announced a one month unilateral cease fire with all militant outfits before his Government was toppled in 2001.Speaking to The Sangai Express Koijam said that he has not seen the official copy of the ground rules, but he has read about it in the daily newspapers.

"The contents may be attractive or not to the militant outfits, but the attempts made by the State Government is laudatory,� added the former Chief Minister.

Putting forth some suggestions, Radhabinod Koijam said that the Government need to thoroughly study the ideologies of all the militant groups and then accordingly chart out the ground rules minutely.

Such preparations are necessary if the militant groups are to be drawn to the negotiating table, he observed.

Senior Congressman and in charge of the media cell of the MPCC (I), Seram Mangi Singh said that the State Government would act as the facilitator in any dialogue with the militant group concerned and New Delhi.

On the other hand the United Committee Manipur, an apex body of various social organisations in the State and which was born during the anti-cease fire stir in 2001, has said that there is nothing much to look forward to the suggestions of the State Government.

Cease fire has not worked nor peace parleys, they maintained and cited the example of the ongoing peace between New Delhi and the NSCN (IM), which will complete ten years on August 1 this year.

"Both the Centre and the NSCN (IM) had initially agreed to follow the ground rules, but the Naga rebel group keeps extorting money from the public and has not stopped indulging in illegal activities,� said Konsam Langamba, president of UCM, on being contacted by The Sangai Express.

The UCM leader further said that since they not gone through the official text of the cease fire ground rule, they are not in a position to comment upon it.

"Once the official text is obtained, we will definitely discuss it and act accordingly,� the UCM leader added.

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