Sep 30, 2005

Nagalim: National Socialist Council of Nagalim Rolls Pitch for Dialogue


Eager to make a positive impression before the next round of talks with Delhi, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) today claimed to be implementing the ceasefire in letter and spirit wherever we are"
Eager to make a positive impression before the next round of talks with Delhi, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) today claimed to be implementing the ceasefire “in letter and spirit wherever we are”.

Rh. Raising, kilo kilonser (home minister) in the NSCN (I-M) hierarchy, said over phone that his organisation had always endeavoured to maintain the ceasefire between the Centre and the Nagas, “wherever they are, in the Northeast or in Delhi”.

He said the 2001 uprising in Manipur against a “ceasefire without territorial limits” had been rendered redundant by developments since then.

“If the Meiteis have a problem, let them approach the government of India. But as far as the Indo-Naga issue is concerned, that is the Nagas’ lookout, not theirs.”

The NSCN (I-M) will resume its dialogue with Delhi’s team of interlocutors early next month, most probably in Bangkok.

The militant leader said contrary to what many might be thinking, the NSCN (I-M) had forged a relationship of mutual trust with the government. He claimed to have addressed a meeting of thousands of NSCN (I-M) members on August 14 in the presence of senior officials, including a deputy commissioner. “The flag was hoisted and nobody raised any objection. That says everything.”

Raising indicated that the NSCN (I-M) was working towards a reconciliation with rival groups. He said the outcome of these efforts, however, depended on the progress of the dialogue with Delhi.

On the recent meeting in Bangkok between the NSCN (I-M) leadership and a delegation of Church and NGO representatives from Nagaland, Raising said they spoke the “same language of unification”. He said the peace process was at a very crucial juncture and the challenge was to remove differences in opinion on key issues.

The NSCN (Khaplang) has been consistently critical of its rival’s approach to the dialogue with Delhi.

Raising said both his organisation and the UPA government at the Centre were committed to a negotiated settlement through peaceful means. “I only hope they (Delhi) will abide by what they say,” he said.

Source: The Telegraph India