Nov 07, 2005

Nagalim: Muivah Not Content with Peace Process


NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has threatened to end peace talks with the Centre if New Delhi fails to reach a final political settlement of the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of the ceasefire
NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has threatened to end peace talks with the Centre if New Delhi fails to reach a final political settlement of the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of the ceasefire.

He said he was giving only "a few months to decide on his proposals for reaching a final political settlement, or else, the talks would break down and his fighters would return to the jungle".

"No one should take the Nagas for granted. This is the last tenure of ceasefire we will have with India. Unless Delhi can reach a settlement within this date, they will have to take responsibility for breakdown of the talks," Muivah said in Bangkok.

The current spell of ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) expires on January 31 but the Centre has already hinted it will be extended to carry forward the Naga peace process to arrive at an amicable settlement.

The NSCN (I-M) proposals to the Centre for finding an honourable settlement to the protracted political conflict included "federal relations" with India, integration of all Naga inhabited areas, joint defence forces, acceptance of Indian currency and separate flag for Nagalim among others.

"We have made some concreate proposals and then we have revised them after taking into account the limitations of the Indian government.

"We have come down quite a bit from our demand for absolute sovereignty but if the Indians think they can just keep us on the conference table to buy time, we are not game," Muivah said.