The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has met with Indian officials to discuss forming a constitution and breaking the current deadlock.

Below is an article written by Nishit Dholabhai and published by The Telegraph:

Another round of Naga talks will begin here [New Delhi] tomorrow evening [16 April 2008] with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) expecting a commitment from Delhi this time.

The outfit had said on Sunday [13 April 2008] that its “patience was running out” because of Delhi’s “delaying tactics” in resolving the Naga political problem.

The focus this time will be on the NSCN (I-M)’s present demand for a separate constitution for Nagalim — the outfit’s principle notion that proposes to bring together all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.

Delhi has so far refused to concede to this demand.

“We will mainly talk on the committee that was formed. We do not have anything substantial tomorrow,” Oscar Fernandez, who will head the Delhi team for the Naga talks, told The Telegraph today [15 April 2008].

The NSCN (I-M) had last year constituted a committee to study parts of the Constitution to know what is acceptable in it.

A NSCN (I-M) source, too, said they would focus on the committee’s findings. “But we do consider this as a crucial round of talks as we have been talking for the last several years and now expect them to say what they can give us and how much they can accommodate us,” he added.

He said the outfit would fight for its “principles”.

More than 60 rounds of talks have been held between Delhi and the NSCN (I-M) since 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was signed.

Observers feel the Centre wants to continue with the status quo even as a delicately balanced Naga tribal society keeps feeling the turmoil. Delhi says it wants reconciliation between the […] Naga outfits, but has not offered any facilitation for the same.

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NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah flew to Delhi two days ago for the talks.