Nov 22, 2005

Nagaland Chief Minister Meets Indian Official


Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tonight met Home Minister Shivraj Patil urging an early resolution be worked out. "Both sides should be sincere and should try to resolve the issue soon. It should not take too long"
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With Naga militant outfit NSCN (IM) building pressure on the Centre to settle the vexed Naga issue quickly, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tonight met Home Minister Shivraj Patil urging an early resolution be worked out. "Both sides should be sincere and should try to resolve the issue soon. It should not take too long," Rio told PTI after meeting Patil at the Home Minister's residence here.

Rio said they discussed the law and order in Nagaland and "also the political situation related to the peace process." NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had recently threatened to call off peace talks with the Centre if New Delhi failed to reach a final political settlement of the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of the ceasefire.

"No one should take the Nagas for granted. This is the last tenure of ceasefire we will have with India. Unless Delhi can reach a settlement within this date, they will have to take responsibility for breakdown of the talks," Muivah had told BBC from Bangkok. The current spell of ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN (I-M) expires on January 31.

Peace talks between NSCN(IM) and the Centre had started more than seven years ago and Rio said there was "frustration" among the people because of the delay in working out a resolution.

"I think they have come much closer but discussions are stuck on some major issues. But I am hopeful," he said. Patil showed interest in resolving the issue soon, the Chief Minister said.

Source: Naga International Support Center