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Naga peace process : PM-NSCN(IM) leaders may meet in Bangkok ?

	July 26, 2004

The Naga peace process which has going on since August 1997 between the Centre and the militant outfit NSCN(IM) is back in the news with reports that the two sides are meeting in Bangkok this week, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who will be also be in the Thai capital in connection with an international meet, may also grant a meeting to NSCN(IM) leaders, though official sources in New Delhi have denied any chance of such a meeting.

According to media reports here in the capital, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to meet the top leadership of the NSCN(I-M) on the sidelines of the Bimstec summit in Bangkok this week.

Although the PMO has denied these reports, reports say there is a possibility that a brief courtesy call on the part of the Naga leaders may take place. The PM leaves for the Thai capital on July 30.

Chairman Isak Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah are already in Bangkok, a source said.

Reports that the Centre’s interlocutor for the Naga peace process, K. Padmanabhaiah, will be in Bangkok on July 28 has heightened the chances of such a meeting taking place. Padmanabhaiah is reportedly making the trip to try to convince Swu and Muivah to extend the ceasefire between the NSCN(I-M) and security forces in Nagaland.

During his last meeting with the NSCN(I-M) leadership in Amsterdam, Padmanabhaiah, along with then Intelligence Bureau director K.P. Singh, had failed to get any assurance from Swu and Muivah on a ceasefire extension.

Although the government is reportedly not too keen on a meeting between Singh and the NSCN(I-M) leaders at this juncture, sources said a brief but informal conclave can’t be ruled out. If the meeting does take place, Singh will follow what his predecessor, A.B. Vajpayee did.



Positive signals

A positive signal of such a meeting came from the NSCN(IM) leadership last week when the militant outfit gave its nod for extension of the ceasefire which has been holding since July 31, 1997. The ceasefire is extended after every six months with mutual consent. The NSCN (I-M) had earlier shown its reluctance to commit itself to an extension of the ceasefire after the United Progressive Alliance mentioned in its common minimum programme that the territories of the northeastern states would not be tampered with. NSCN(IM) leadership has conveyed its resentment to the Manmohan Singh Government over this.

The first indication of a change in the NSCN (I-M)’s stand was the departure of a delegation for Bangkok to participate in the next round of talks with Delhi. Phungthing Shimrang, convener of the NSCN (I-M)’s ceasefire monitoring cell, explained the change of heart by saying the dialogue had nothing to do with the government’s internal policy. If the new Congress-led government’s policy is to discourage alteration of existing boundaries, it is an internal matter, while the ongoing talks are beyond the ambit of such policies, the militant leader said.

The militant group construed it as a rejection of its demand for integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas of the region. Though Shimrang said the peace talks would continue, he clarified that the NSCN (I-M) continues to view that clause in the ruling alliance’s common minimum programme as a negative one. It is not in good spirit. This strategy is based on the suggestions by Congress leaders of the region.

The last round of talks, held in Amsterdam, ended inconclusively because of the NSCN (I-M)’s objection to the territorial integrity clause in the government’s common minimum programme.



Armed Forces Act to stay

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act will remain in force in Nagaland for another year despite a campaign by various organisations that consider it a draconian legislation.

The previous term of the act ended last week.

An official source said the decision to persist with the legislation was a routine one. He claimed the situation in Nagaland warranted an extension of the term by at least another year.

The announcement comes in the wake of a fresh campaign by various organisations, including the Naga Students’ Federation, against the Act.

The vast majority believes vesting the armed forces with special powers is tantamount to allowing them to violate human rights on the pretext of conducting counter-insurgency operations.

A delegation of Naga organisations visited New Delhi recently and argued before the political leadership that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was an impediment to continuing the peace process.