Nov 29, 2004

Nagalim: Rio urges India Government to remove hurdles for Muivah's visit


Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the Centre to issue a clarification on the NSCN(I-M)'s "complaints" that the government was enouraging rival factions, which "prompted" the Naga leaders to postpone their India visit and can affect
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the Centre to issue a clarification on the NSCN(I-M)'s "complaints" that the government was enouraging rival factions, which "prompted" the Naga leaders to postpone their India visit and can affect the momentum of the peace process. Rio, who met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Centre's interlocutor on the Naga issue K Padmanabhaiah here last evening, told UNI that the UPA government must issue a formal clarification with immediate effect, so, as to enable an early visit by the NSCN (I-M) leaders to India for peace talks. NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th Muivah and Chairman Isak Chisi Swu were earlier scheduled to arrive here on last Friday and spent a few months in India and hold structured and intensive dialogue to resolve five-decade-old insurgency. They were also scheduled to travel to Nagaland next month and celebrate Christmas there. However, the leaders, currently in Netherlands postponed their visit and decided to come only after the Centre clarified that neither is it arming nor negotiating with two rival Naga factions - NSCN (Khaplang) and Naga National Council. "The visit of the NSCN (I-M) leaders and subsequent dialogue would go a long way in resolvig the vexed issue. Therefore it is imperative to remove all hurdles and misunderstanding. The State Government on its part was doing everything possible to facilitate the peace talks," Rio said.