EMN
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 2
It has been over one month now the NSCN-IM leaders are camping in New Delhi to resume the formal peace talks with the Government of India. The media had reported earlier that the NSCN-IM leaders were invited by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to resume the formal talks. When queried on the latest development in this regard, Rh Raising who is one of the executive members of the NSCN-IM’s Steering Committee (the highest decision making body of the outfit) informed Eastern Mirror this evening that certain works have to be completed with New Delhi’s interlocutor RN Ravi. “Any day from now we will be meeting the Prime Minister,” said Rh Raising.
In the past few days there have been hectic engagements between the NSCN-IM leaders and the Government of India’s representatives, sources said. The sources also said that since the usual formalities have been done away both the parties (GOI and NSCN-IM) are meeting very often these days.
Few days ago,Guwahati based The Assam Tribune had carried a news item that the format of talks between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) “has been changed” with both sides agreeing to expedite the talks to find an amicable solution as soon as possible.
Quoting the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the newspaper had also reported that a decision was taken to do away with the practice of holding one or two rounds of formal talks in a year. Such a practice was going on for years without much progress in finding a solution.
It also said that several rounds of talks have already been held after the path-breaking first round, which was held last month. Now, the Government’s interlocutor and the leaders of the NSCN (I-M) are meeting more frequently and the ultimate aim is not to count the number of rounds of talks, but to find an amicable solution as soon as possible, the report added.
MHA sources revealed that the NSCN-IM leaders also accepted the new format of talks. The NSCN-IM leaders have been told that they can get in touch with the Government’s interlocutor whenever they want to discuss any point. Similarly, the Government’s interlocutor will also get in touch with the NSCN leaders whenever required to discuss any point, the report said. Now the talks will be more like “business meetings” with a definite purpose.
Sources said the Government has already made its points clear to the leadership of the NSCN-IM and the limitations of the Government have been mentioned in clear terms. On the other hand, the NSCN-IM leaders also expressed their limitations on certain issues. Those points are now being discussed in detail to find an amicable solution.
It is worth recalling here that a 10-member team of the NSCN-IM had left Dimapur on September 20 for New Delhi on the invitation of the Government of India. NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and the outfit general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah led the team.
It is also worth noting here that no concerted formal talks between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India was held for a long time, as it was witnessed during the Vajpayee era.
