In what is now becoming a routine exercise at this time of the year, the Union Government, on July 30,2004, extended the cease-fire in Nagaland with the insurgent National Socialist Council of Nagaland -Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) for another year. A decision to extend the truce, in place since August 1997, wasreportedly arrived at after the Union Government interlocutor, K. Padmanabhaiah, held talks with the NSCN-IMleaders Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah at Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
Earlier, Isak Swu, had said: "A ceasefire is only important if it facilitates the peace process. If it isnecessary for the progress of the peace process, we will extend it. But if that is not the prospect we arelooking at, then we will not extend it. It will depend on our assessment of the attitude of the newdispensation in Delhi." Muivah, confirming his colleague's position, had added, "If one is notprepared to work for an honourable solution, what is the use of having a ceasefire? If after seven years theceasefire ends, it will be sad. But we are not responsible if that happens."
While the cease-fire extension was on expected lines, some apprehensions had been expressed before the dealhad been inked, and the NSCN-IM leadership had asked its cadres to go under-ground, with Muivah declaring,"Don't expect me to be a sitting duck when the enemy creates a situation."