Chedema, Sept. 6: Having rejected the gun culture decades ago, the Naga National Council refuses to bring down the white flag that flutters atop the peace camp for the past 41 years.

The party, founded by the legendary A.Z. Phizo, strongly believes that the Nagas attained nationhood long ago. The leaders of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), the militant wing of the Adino Phizo-led NNC, observed the 42nd ceasefire day or ?peace day? today.

The party commemorated the 1964 ceasefire agreement with the Centre and pledged its commitment to the 1975 Shillong Accord signed with New Delhi. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) is the most vocal opponent of the Accord which, it claims, compromised the interests of the Nagas.

The NNC maintains that the Accord saved the Nagas from suffering at the hands of the army. Criticising the NSCN (I-M) without naming it, the NNC?s Angami regional council president, Vilhouthie Rhiepfu, said it was fruitless for Nagas to reject the Accord.

Speaking in local Angami, Rhiepfu criticised the factional fighting and extortion drives. The FGN leaders stood by both peace pacts that took 11 years to materialise. Over a hundred senior people gathered at the hall for a solemn function. Fresh paint shone on some old battle helmets hanging in a hall as septuagenarian leaders recounted tales of the Nagas? persistent efforts.

Kedallo (vice-president) of the FGN, L. Kaiso, said the 1964 ceasefire was ?international? and signed by ?two nations?.

He claimed the battle was won when the Centre backed off from calling them ?Naga rebels? and instead, included the words, ?Federal Government of Nagaland? in the ceasefire agreement.

While children sang songs praising the elders? sacrifice, rich tributes were paid to the Nagaland Peace Mission which had mediated between the NNC and the Centre.

A veteran NNC woman leader suggested displaying photographs of NPM members ? Rev. Michael Scott and Jaiprakash Narain ? in the hall where the deliberations took place. ?We are grateful to those people, and especially to church leaders for bringing peace to Nagaland,? she said. The church leaders had negotiated with the army to stop atrocities on villagers, she added.