Don’t replace incumbent interlocutor for Naga peace talks, NTC writes to Modi

Dimapur, Aug. 19 (EMN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has opposed the move by a “certain section of people” to remove RN Ravi as the government of India’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks, stating that it’s done without assessing the reality of the progress of the talks.

In a representation to the prime minister of India, the NTC said that “changing of interlocutor for Naga peace process is not the answer at this juncture when the incumbent is diligently trying to work out a solution to the vexed Naga political issue”.

It said the reported agreed points between the government of India, represented by Ravi, and the Naga political groups on October 31 2019, indicated that “the expected solution is entering into a concluding stage” and termed it as a significant achievement.

“The ulterior motives with vested interest behind such one sided pressure is solely to derail the peace process and that the issue is rolled back to square one in the name of political dialogue with uncertainty. The Nagas now want real and durable peace in the land within a definite timeframe,” the representation read.

“The Nagas have the past experiences too that whenever there were changes of Interlocutors for Naga Peace talks, the process was reversed back to ground zero. This is the reasons as to why the Naga Peace process is considerably delayed and drags on to 23 years now,” it added.   

The NTC stated that Ravi, who is also the governor of Nagaland, “knows the positions much better than any other” after having interacted with several organisations and individuals. It went on to extend support to various civil society organisations in the endeavour for an early solution but not to replace the incumbent interlocutor for Naga peace talks. The council also urged the government of India “to respect the sentiments and listen to the cry of the people of the state represented by the stalk holders”.