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North East : Naga peace process : Talks to continue despite “hiccups”

	November 06, 2006

But no updates for the media



The decade old Naga peace process between the Union Government and Naga militant outfit, NSCN(IM), which began in August 1997, is to continue despite “hiccups along the way,” but the future parleys will not be open to the Press.



Delhi’s interlocutor in the peace talks, former Home Secretary K. Padmanabhaiah, met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi on Oct. 31 to discuss the government’s strategy for the next round of parleys.



NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had sent a note to Padmanabhaiah recently, asking for the next round of talks to be convened before the Winter Session of Parliament. Since the session has been advanced to November 22, the government is contemplating dates that do not clash with the schedules of the Group of Ministers involved in the dialogue.



“Talks might be held within a month,” Padmanabhaiah said.



The Group of Ministers, headed by Oscar Fernandes, is expected to meet soon to set the agenda for the talks.



Fernandes has accused a section of the media of falsely reporting that the process of dialogue is on the verge of breaking down. There is “neither a deadlock nor a failure of talks”, he said.



The minister also said that both sides have decided during the last round of talks not to go to the media with statements on the negotiations.



The last round of talks involved the Netherlands-based Kreddah, too. But sources clarified that Kreddah has been involved in the talks “on the fringes” and not as a party.



Both sides had previously agreed that the Constitution would be studied in line with the NSCN (I-M)’s demand that a separate one be worked out as part of the “special federal relationship between two entities”.



Padmanabhaiah said no “snap decision” was possible on major decisions. “We are inching towards reconciling,” he said.





NSCN (IM) grants safe passage to Khaplang faction



Buckling under pressure from various quarters, the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) on Oct. 29 granted “safe passage” to members of the rival Khaplang group after a three-day siege of their camp in Zunheboto.



The warring factions had pounded one another with mortars and rockets in the heart of the town, leading to casualties on both sides.



Confirming reports of the ceasefire, a source in Zunheboto said pressure from community leaders and a request from the Sumi Hoho, the apex organisation of the Sumi Naga tribe, forced the NSCN (I-M) leadership “to set the NSCN (K) members free.”



Prior to the conciliatory gesture, the NSCN (I-M) had warned security forces of “dire consequences” if they tried to intervene.



The outfit later issued a statement saying that rival cadre holed up at Amiphoto Colony were “spared” and granted safe passage till Shotomi village on “humanitarian grounds”. It said the decision was taken in deference to appeals by the Sumi Hoho and community leaders.



The standoff between the two NSCN factions, which have been engaged in a turf war despite committing themselves to ceasefire rules, displaced thousands of residents of Zunheboto town. One of the houses pounded by mortars and rockets belongs to K. Hollohon, parliamentary secretary and adviser to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.



Amiphoto Colony is home to three senior functionaries of the NSCN (K) - general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi, his brother in-law and kilonser (minister) Kughalu Mulatonu and “brigadier” Niki Sumi.





Rumblings in Naga ruling coalition



Meanwhile, reports from Kohima indicate that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government is heading for trouble with a major constituent of the coalition, the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), demanding disciplinary action against DAN chairman Hokishe Sema and four other MLAs for criticising the government.



The four MLAs include Z. Obed (NPF), Huska Sumi (JD-U), Talinungsang (NPF) and former Finance Minister K. Therie, who had blamed the government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.



Their remarks evoked strong protests from the NPF and the ruling combine.



Praising the government for its “deft” handling of the volatile situation in the wake of fratricidal killings by Naga rebels, the NPF central office- bearers said the party wanted DAN partners to take steps against their legislators for tarnishing the image of the government.



The party said there was no reason why the DAN government would not complete its full term and usher in permanent peace in the state.



The Congress has once again demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on moral grounds for the “deteriorating law and order situation in the state”.



Congress parliamentary secretary and MLA K.V. Pusa said the outburst of DAN chairman and four other MLAs indicated the DAN government’s all-round failure.



Demanding Rio’s resignation, he said Nagas are peace- loving people and “lawlessness cannot be allow to continue in the state”. The party has also submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking dismissal of the state government.



In a memorandum submitted to Governor Shyamal Datta, party legislators said constitutional safeguards could help restore peace in the state.



Reacting to the opposition charges, the State government reiterated that factional clashes were a political problem and not related to law and order as claimed by the Congress. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said there was no question of President’s rule in the state as demanded by the Congress, as the ongoing clashes between the NSCN factions are related to political problems. Nagaland, he stressed, is “quite peaceful, unlike the neighbouring states”.