|
North East : Naga peace process : Second round of Delhi talks |
 |
The much-awaited second round of Delhi talks with militant Naga leaders belonging to NSCN(IM) faction, Isak Chisi Swu and T. Muivah, began in the capital last week.
The first session, which began on December 7 with the duo calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi among others, could best be described as of introductory nature, but significant, as both sides were able to gauge the mood and understand each other. The meetings, described as ‘courtesy calls’ are preparatory to the formal talks which are slated to begin some time after Christmas.
At the 40-minute meeting with the Prime Minister on December 7, both sides agreed to find an “honourable and mutually acceptable solution” to the Naga problem. After meeting the Prime Minister, the PMO media advisor Sanjay Baru told correspondents that the two sides were “very happy” with the meeting. He said the Prime Minister assured the Naga leaders that he favoured “an honourable and mutually acceptable solution to the issue so that Naga people have a life of dignity.”
National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit, central negotiator Padmanabhaiah and Sanjay Baru participated in the meeting.
The Naga leaders later met Home Minister Shivraj Patil who said that the two sides were yet to begin talks on any substantive issue involving the state.
NSCN(IM) spokesman V.S. Atem assured the Centre that the outfit’s top leadership would leave “no stone unturned” to achieve a peaceful solution to the Naga problem. In a statement, Atem described the Naga leaders’ meetings with the Prime Minister and Home Minister as “cordial and optimistic,” and said they would strive for an “honourable and mutually acceptable solution.”
“The collective leadership of the outfit (NSCN-IM) and the Government reaffirmed and reassured each other of their commitment that “no stone should be left unturned to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict,” the statement added.
The statement sought to put an end to any speculation on the parameters of the dialogue. Referring to autonomy, the statement said : “There has been no discussion on autonomy. We are not discussing autonomy - that question does not arise. We have submitted our proposals and will discuss each of them threadbare to arrive at a peaceful solution.”
It is understood that the NSCN(IM) had submitted a 30-point Memorandum two years ago to the previous NDA Government. These were later refined and were submitted to the UPA Government three months ago. While both sides are tight-lipped about the memorandum, it is understood that the proposals refer to the kind of federal structure that the NSCN(IM) wants and also includes the long-standing demand of integration of the Naga-dominated areas.
During their stay in the capital, the NSCN(IM) leaders also called on several other national leaders including former Prime Minister Vajpayee and his Deputy L.K. Advani. It may be recalled that the first round of Delhi talks with NSCN (IM) was held under the premiership of Vajpayee in January 2003.
During their meeting with Sonia Gandhi, the two leaders conveyed to her that “just a drop of positive hint by her will make a big difference in the peace process. Sonia agreed with the NSCN(IM) leaders on the importance of continuing the negotiations. She emphasised the fact that irrespective of the conflict, dispute or differences, they must all be resolved through peaceful negotiations.
The NSCN(IM) leaders who are expected to stay in India for several months will spend most of the time in Nagaland celebrating Christmas. They are scheduled to visit New Delhi some time in January for formal talks on the Naga issue.
This is Swu and Muivah’s second visit to India after their path-breaking meeting with Vajpayee and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani in January last year. The two leaders have been living in self-exile in South East Asian and European cities for the past 37 years.
Sources close to the NSCN-IM said the group had submitted a draft agenda for talks on substantive issues to the government and was awaiting its response.
“The demand for the integration of Naga-inhabited areas in the north-east is one of the issues,” said a source, who noted the draft agenda was handed over to New Delhi’s interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah during a meeting in Bangkok last month.
Other matters covered in the document included the NSCN-IM’s demand for a separate currency and flag for Nagaland.
|
