The Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) are taking steps to resolve issues delaying a final solution to decades-old Naga political issue.
An NSCN (I-M) delegation has reached Delhi for talks with home ministry officials next week, while the PMO, on its part, invited the Naga Hoho, an influential organisation facilitating the peace process, after it sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to resolve unexpected developments which could adversely impact the peace process.
While nine NSCN (I-M) members left on a chartered flight from Dimapur, five others took a Dimapur-Imphal-Delhi flight on Friday.
Though October 31, 2019 was set wrap up negotiations for a final solution, the NSCN (I-M) had sought an extension.
However, a series of developments since June involving the outfit, the state government and Nagaland governor and interlocutor R.N. Ravi have all but “pushed” the peace process to the brink.
Against this backdrop, Friday’s developments are being seen as an attempt by both the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) to put the talks back on track after the outfit had skipped a meeting convened by Ravi in Kohima on July 16.
On July 20, NSCN (I-M) general secretary, an “unwell” Thuingaleng Muivah, flew to Delhi on a chartered flight with eight other members to get himself treated and also resume the talks.
The outfit had entered into a ceasefire with the Centre in 1997 to amicably resolve the “oldest” insurgency in India,
Sources said presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or home minister Amit Shah would indicate a “big” announcement. “Otherwise, home ministry personnel will be trying to resolve all issues, including those involving Ravi, and put the process firmly back on track for an early solution. The talks are likely to be held next week,” one of them said.
That the Centre was “keen” on reviving the process was also evident from the PMO’s invite to the Naga Hoho, the apex body of Naga tribes.
Naga Hoho president H.K. Zhimomi told The Telegraph, “Yes, we got an invite on Wednesday but we don’t know what is on the agenda or whom we will be meeting. They wanted us to leave on Thursday but we cannot leave anytime because of the Covid SOP and other engagements. We are in touch with state home department.”
Zhimomi also clarified he is not part of the NSCN (I-M)-Centre talks. “We are only facilitators. We are for a lasting, amicable and inclusive solution for all Naga people. Everything remaining equal, we will be in Delhi next week,” he said.
The National Naga Political Groups, comprising seven outfits, said their talks with Ravi had concluded on October 31 and they sought an early solution.
Organisations in Manipur representing the Nagas, the United Naga Council, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, Naga Women Union and Naga People Movement for Human Rights-South, had on July 25 sought Modi’s intervention to resolve the Naga issue at the earliest.
The peace talks, sources said, had got stuck because the NSCN (I-M) were firm on a separate flag and a constitution, something the Centre could not agree to because it had only last year withdrawn Article 370 that gave Jammu & Kashmir special powers.
Moreover, ties between the NSCN (I-M), which had signed the Framework Agreement with the Centre on August 3, 2015 to resolve the Naga political problem, and governor Ravi nosedived since June, so much so that calls for the latter’s replacement have increased.
But the stand of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), comprising seven outfits that are also in talks with the Centre, is different. A senior NNPG member said replacing Ravi would not resolve the deadlock. “In fact, it will be back to square one,” he said.
Backing Ravi, the NNPGs had said the governor has “exhibited serious concern and commitment with a practical touch” to the Naga political issue.
The Naga Students’ Federation, in a statement on Friday, said there could be “no” compromise on the unique history, identity, legitimate political rights and aspirations of the Nagas.
The NSF urged the Centre to resolve the “oldest political issue in the world” and appealed to Ravi to take the peace talks ahead with all “seriousness, sincerity and empathy based on Nagas’ unique history”.
