Jun 28, 2012

Nagalim: Indo-Naga Peace Talks


Discussion among Naga leaders is focusing on what future shape of governance could be, with debates including the possibility of a special federal solution.

Below is an article published by E-Pao:

A high level Naga delegation led by the Naga Hoho has met Union home minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi this evening [26 June 2012].

In the morning the Naga leaders also met central leaders including Intelligence Bureau officials and interlocutor of NSCN-IM-Government of India peace talk R.S Pandey, according to a well-placed source in Delhi [India].

The Naga delegation is likely to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, the source New Delhi informed Newmai News Network over phone this evening [26 June 2012].

The Naga leaders have been pressing the government of India to bring the Indo-Naga settlement within this year itself.

Leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) are also part of the Naga Hoho delegation currently camping in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, patience among the Nagas is loosing fast following the prolonging of the Naga peace talk.

In the various seminars organized by Naga Solidarity Group (NSG) Naga intellectuals have been bringing out the issue as to how long the peace talk should be allowed to go on.

In one such discourse in Ukhrul, a well-known Naga thinker Abraham Lotha had opined 'the Naga political issue is not the monopoly of the undergrounds. They have been given enough time and chances’.

It is worthwhile to note that the Naga apex body, the Naga Hoho had asserted last month that by the end of this year things should be materialized regarding the talks.

Fifteen years of dialogue is a long, long period, said the Naga civil body earlier.

It is hopeful that some sort of interim arrangement may arrive from the talks between the NSCN-IM and New Delhi by the end of this year [2012].

It can also be mentioned that Seven Sisters Post had reported last year that a "Supra State Body" for the Nagas may be the outcome of the talks between the NSCN-IM and New Delhi.

Seven Sisters Post newspaper had reported last year [2011] that the final settlement envisages a "special federal relationship" between India and Nagaland and creation of a "Supra-state Body" for the Nagas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to "preserve, protect and promote their cultural, social and customary practices.

The offer to create a pan-Naga 'Supra State Body', instead of the "Greater Nagalim" demanded by the NSCN, has been touted by Indian negotiators as the "second best option for the Naga people", the report had said.

Till date, the NSCN-IM has not given any official comment on the report.