Jan 22, 2005

Nagalim: NSCN Prepared for Peace Parlays with Gol


The National Socialist Council of Nagalim has reportedly endorsed their leaders move to take the rebel group's peace parleys with the Indian Government forward
The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has reportedly endorsed their leaders move to take the rebel group's peace parleys with the Indian Government forward.

The concluding day of the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) Fourth Naga People's Consultative Meeting saw the declaration of four points, all of them aimed at ensuring the success of the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks.

Representatives of various intellectual organizations from all across the Naga dominated areas endorsed the declaration that stated "Naga people and organisations covering across the length and breadth of Naga Homeland after two days of intensive, sincere and honest interaction with the Collective Leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim.

The four points declared were as follows: (1) The fullest support for an honourable solution to the Indo-Naga political issue on the basis of the uniqueness of Naga history and situation; (2) That the unification of all Naga areas is legitimate and therefore non-negotiable; (3) That the political solution should be found through peaceful means; and (4) That both Government of India and the

National Socialist Council of Nagalim uphold utmost honesty and sincerity towards finding a political solution."

Though the NSCN (I-M) has been making these demands from the beginning, its decision to put forth the declaration before a cross section of Naga society is aimed at trying to strengthen its stand once again before beginning a second round of negotiations with New Delhi.

"Today here we declare, we will never let you down. We will never disappoint you. May God bless Nagaland, Kuknalim (Victory of the land)", said NSCN general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to the cross section of people present at the meeting.

Special Emissary of the collective leadership General (Retd.) V S Atem appealed to the mass representatives to take the resolution to their respective villages. In his thanks giving speech Atem said, "We will fight to the finish till the victory is won".

The meeting is crucial in the sense that the next round of Indo- Naga peace talks are scheduled in the last week of this month and stating 'peaceful, negotiable, honourable solution upholding honesty and sincerity' for political solution to the five decades old problem shows seriousness on the part of the NSCN (I-M).

Later on, talking to a select group of mediapersons on the sidelines of the meeting, chairman Isak Chisi Swu made it clear that the solution cannot be within the Constitution of India. He stressed that there can be no change in the perceptions of NSCN and there is no need to change the approach of the organization.

"There will be no change in our attitude, as our meeting with the people (cross section of Naga society) has strengthened us."

Till date the issue of reconciliation with rival groups was being raised, today in a significant statement Isak Swu revealed that the representatives of rival groups had also met the NSCN collective leadership. "NNC, NSCN (K) met us, they explained us everything whatever they have done and apologized."

On the issue of how long it would take for any solution to come about, Muivah said that it was too early to say anything at this juncture. Throwing the ball into the court of the Government of India he added: "Sometime it depends upon the other side also, we have to make adjustments".

The meeting organised to strengthen the ongoing Indo-Naga political peace talks was attended by intellectuals from all across Naga dominated areas including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Myanmar (Burma/ eastern Nagalim).

Representatives from Meghalaya, Naga NGOs, tribal organisations, student bodies and village heads from all across Nagaland were also present.

All the NSCN office bearers, including steering committee members, council of ministers, military commanders were also present at the meeting.

The meeting is being viewed as the final ground work by the NSCN (I-M) towards the materialization of the Indo-Naga political dialogue, which is a tough negotiating table.

It may be mentioned here that the neighbouring states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are opposed to the integration of Naga dominated areas, making it clear that they would not part with even "an inch" of their land.

This is a major hitch and one that could take years to solve.

 

Source: New Kerala