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05/10/2005: "NSCN inching closer to peace accord"


NSCN inching closer to peace accord: Guwahati | May 10, 2005 12:44:30 PM IST

Guwahati, May 10 : An influential tribal separatist group in Nagaland Tuesday said it was inching closer to bringing an end to more than six decades of insurgency in the region through peace talks with New Delhi. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah ended a fresh round of talks with Indian government peace negotiators in New Delhi late Monday aimed at bringing the curtains down on one of South Asia's longest running rebellions. "The talks ended on a positive note with just two or three substantive issues that remain to be sorted out now," NSCN spokesman Kraibo Chawang told IANS on telephone from Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial hub.

Federal minister Oscar Fernandes and India's chief peace emissary K. Padmanabhaiah led the government side in the talks with the NSCN leadership. "The minister told us that he understood the problems of the Naga people and would convey the feelings to the Indian council of ministers before a final decision was taken to seal an accord," Chawang said. The NSCN is holding peace talks with New Delhi after the two sides entered into a ceasefire in 1997.

The NSCN, the oldest and the most powerful of around 30 rebel armies in India's northeast, wants the creation of a "Greater Nagaland" by slicing off parts of the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizeable Naga tribal populations. The three regional governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the NSCN demand for unification of Naga dominated areas. "Fernandes told us to have patience and assured us of the Indian government's determination to work out a mutually acceptable and honorable solution to our problem," Chawang said. Muivah and Swu arrived in New Delhi in December at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for furthering the peace talks. The two self-exiled leaders have been operating from Southeast Asian cities for the past 38 years. There have been at least 15 rounds of talks held between the rebel leadership and New Delhi since December although the two sides are yet to clinch a deal.

"The progress and pace of the talks are rather slow, but then the discussions are going on positively on the right track," Chawang said. NSCN leader Muivah is expected to arrive in Dimapur to hold discussions with top guerrilla leaders and commoners before sitting for fresh talks with New Delhi later this month. Muivah will apprise the people about the progress of the talks so far and also to discuss strategies for future negotiations with New Delhi," Chawang said.
Nagaland, where over 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since India's independence from Britain in 1947, is a Christian majority state of two million people. (IANS)

Muivah to brief public on talks progress before leaving The Imphal Free Press

Dimapur, May 9: NSCN (IM) general secretary Th. Muivah is arriving in the state on May 10 (Tuesday) prior to leaving India. He will arrive in Dimapur by an Indian Airlines flight at 12 noon and straightway head for NSCN (IM)’s central headquarter at Hebron, where he will brief the local media. Muivah is presently in New Delhi holding talks with a ministerial delegation of the government of India. The talks are aimed at finding a solution to the decades old Naga political problem. Highly placed sources from the NSCN-IM told Newmai News Network this evening that Muivah would stay in Nagaland for about a week during which he would brief the Naga NGOs, Church and mass-based civil societies about the progress made in the talks.

The sources said the present talks were being held in Delhi as endorsed by the Naga people during the 4th Naga Consultative Meet held in Hebron late last year and therefore, Muivah thought he should brief the NGOs, Church and mass-based civil societies about the progress made in the talks and also the difficulties and problems before he leaves for his overseas camp.
“Muivah is about to leave for abroad and so wants to tell the people about the problems, difficulties and progress made in the talks”, the sources said, adding it would be a sort of consultation.
It was learnt that the NSCN (IM) made adequate security arrangements in view of Muivah’s visit.
It may be recalled Muivah along with NSCN (IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu had arrived in India late last year on the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Although Swu, who is also a member of the steering committee, Unrepresented Nation’s People’s Organization (UNPO), had to leave for abroad midway due to his prior commitment with the UNPO, Muivah stayed back and held a string of parleys with representatives of the government of India.
NSCN (I-M) leaders return to Nagaland Zee News
Kohima, May 09: After a series of talks with the Central leaders in New Delhi, NSCN(I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah and others arrive in Nagaland tomorrow to inform the Naga people about the progress of political parleys.

Top NSCN(I-M) leaders engaged in parleys with a Group of Ministers for past over three months to find a negotiated settlement to the Naga problem, but made no breakthrough so far even as both sides claimed that talks progressed well.

Muivah is scheduled to arrive at Dimapur tomorrow and during the next few days, he would hold discussions with the representatives of Naga civil society groups, NGOs, students organisations and churches on the peace talks, NSCN(I-M) information and publicity in-charge, Kraibo Chawang told news agencies today.

As the Naga people's convention on peace process in January reposed faith on NSCN(I-M) collective leadership to carry forward the peace talks with the centre for finding an honourable settlement of the conflict, our general secretary felt it is his duty to inform the Naga people about the progress of talks as well as the difficulties, and he would be interested to get feed back from the people, Chawang said.
In a recent interview with a private news channel, Muivah in no uncertain term stated that the Nagas would not accept anything than an integrated Naga homeland.
NSCN says talks end on 'positive note Guwahati | May 10, 2005 3:44:21 PM IST

Guwahati, May 10 : Nagaland's dominant separatist group said Tuesday that it had ended latest peace talks with New Delhi on a "positive note" and that this would help end six decades of insurgency in the state. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah finished the latest round of talks in New Delhi late Monday. Both sides are seeking to bring the curtains down on one of Asia's longest running rebellions.
"The talks ended on a positive note, with just two or three substantive issues remaining to be sorted out," NSCN spokesman Kraibo Chawang told IANS on telephone from Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial hub. Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes and India's chief peace emissary K. Padmanabhaiah led the government in the talks. "The minister told us that he understood the problems of the Naga people and would convey the feelings to the Indian council of ministers before a final decision was taken to seal an accord," Chawang said.

"Fernandes told us to have patience and assured us of the Indian government's determination to work out a mutually acceptable and honourable solution to our problem," he added.
The spokesman did not say if the Indian government had made any specific promise vis-à-vis NSCN's insistence on a larger state that would include Nagas living in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. All three states are bitterly opposed to any slicing of their territory to form what is known as "Greater Nagaland".
Muivah had told BBC recently: "Unless the Nagas aspiration for unification of all Naga inhabited areas is fully realised, no negotiated settlement with the government of India is possible."
The NSCN has been holding peace talks with New Delhi after the two sides entered into a ceasefire in 1997.Muivah and Swu arrived in New Delhi in December last year at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for further peace talks.
The two leaders have been operating from Southeast Asia for almost four decades. There have been at least 15 rounds of talks held between the NSCN and New Delhi since December.
"The progress and pace of the talks are rather slow, but then the discussions are going on positively on the right track," Chawang said.Muivah is expected to arrive in Dimapur to hold discussions with top guerrilla leaders and other Nagas before going for fresh talks with New Delhi this month.
"Muivah will apprise the people about the progress of the talks and discuss strategies for future negotiations," Chawang said. Nagaland, where over 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since India's independence from Britain in 1947, is a Christian majority state of two million people. (IANS)

Bureau Report Muivah landing Nagaland tomorrow Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 8 (EMN) Principal Naga negotiator Thuingaleng Muivah, General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) will land here in Nagaland Tuesday to ‘consult’ the Naga people after having had a series of talks over the last few months with the Government of India. Sources told this correspondent over phone that the top Naga leader would come back to Hebron as a process of consultation, keeping in mind the need to involve the people at every stage of negotiation to end one of the longest and bloody insurgency in modern times. ‘We reiterate that it is up to the people to decide,’ he said.
The NSCN collective leadership were in Nagaland late 2004 and early this year for a series of conclaves with numerous groups including tribal representatives and mass based Naga organizations, besides some neighbouring National groups. They said Th. Muivah would fly down here, having consulted the Chairman Isak Chishi Swu, who is on an international assignment presently. Asked how long the General Secretary would be here, the source said ‘more than two weeks.’ He said the talks has proceeded as desired and that an outcome was expected. Therefore, before the NSCN could proceed in the negotiations, those involved in the difficult deliberations have decided to come back to Nagaland for a process of consultations.
Kohima rallies against rape and murder of a Keralite ladyThe Imphal Free Press

Kohima, May 9 (NEPS): Several organizations in Nagaland including powerful Naga Students Federation (NSF), Angami Public Organization (APO), Naga Mothers Association (NMA), Mezoma Welfare Forum, All Nagaland Private Teachers Association (ANPTA), etc. have today shown their solidarity with the Malayali community in condemning the brutal rape and murder of Mrs Somi Koshi by one Pezazoto Savino.
A public rally was organized by Malayali Community, Kohima today here at the MLA Hostel Junction with large number of publics irrespective of different communities residing in the State capital attending it.
The President of the NSF, V Phushika Aomi while condemning the heinous crime perpetrated on the innocent teacher demanded the State Government to come up with adequate laws to award befitting punishment to the culprit.
“Rapes are taking place often but no adequate laws are there to deal with,” he stated urging the Government to frame certain strategies to curb the rising scourge. Describing that the crime committed to the innocent teacher as an insult to the Naga community as a whole, the student leader showed their full solidarity with the Malayali community living in the State. Stating that late Mrs Koshi was a dedicated teacher in her profession, Aomi called upon all communities and other right thinking citizens to join hands in eradicating the menace from the society. Leader of NMA, Neidonou while condemning the inhumane act of rape and murder of the selfless and dedicated teacher called upon all communities living in the State to rise and fight against the menace.
Later the rallists went to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to State Governor Shyamall Datta and also Chief Minister N Rio to take stern action against culprit who had committed the heinous crime to the innocent teacher. It may be mentioned that late Mrs Koshi, who had been teaching the Government Middle School, Mezoma for the past nine years, was brutally raped and murdered by Pezazoto Savino of Khonoma village under Kohima district on May 5. On the fateful day, she left home as usual for the school but failed to return till late in the evening.
When her neighbors contacted principal of her school, he said she did not report her duty for the day. This grew alarm and immediate search was launched for the missing teacher and finally found her badly mutilated dead body hidden under the grass in the jungle of Mezoma under Kohima district. In a sweep action, the Mezoma Youth started massive investigation and caught the culprit the next day from a video hall in Kohima. Meanwhile Malayali Community in Nagaland has expressed their happiness to various Naga NGOs especially the Mezoma Youth for their immediate response in arresting the culprit and showing their solidarity with the community.

NGOs blame Rio govt for apathy on rape OUR CORRESPONDENT Calcuttta Telegraph
Kohima, May 9: Naga NGOs are blaming the state government for not providing adequate security to women. The issue has assumed great significance in the wake of the rape and murder of schoolteacher Sony Koshy on May 5 . The NGOs are participating in a protest organised by the Malayali Samajam Kohima (MSK). They strongly condemned the incident and expressed concern over the increasing incidents of violence against women. 36-year-old Koshy was a Keralite and a mother of two children aged 11 and four years. She taught at the Mezoma Middle School. A day after her murder, Khonoma villagers apprehended 18-year-old Pezazoto and demanded capital punishment for him. This is the third rape incident in a month in the state.
The procession, comprising mostly of Keralites and NGO representatives, submitted a memorandum to governor Shyamal Datta. “We request the government to provide safety and security to women in Nagaland. They should be able to go to their workplace without the fear of being attacked,” said MSK president M.K.R. Pillai and general secretary C.S. Nair. Datta has promised all help as well as a transfer for Sony’s husband, a postal employee here, to Kerala. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been demanded. Datta is also considering bestowing an award on Koshy posthumously for her contribution as a teacher. Neidonuo Angami, advisor of the Naga Mothers’ Association, blamed the state for not constituting a women’s commission. According to Angami, such a commission is urgently required to improve the deteriorating situation.
V. Phushika Aomi, president of Naga Students Federation, expressed anger over the government’s inaction. He said, the NGOs could only make the government aware, they could not implement laws. The ultimate responsibility lay with the government, he pointed out. Many NGO representatives walked all the way to the Raj Bhawan along with the Malayali community members. The Mezoma Welfare Forum has asked the government to take strict action against Pezazoto.Pelhoufhelie, president of the All-Nagaland Private Schools Association, expressed the need for strong legislation to protect women.
Naga protesters seek deterrent punishment for Kohima rape The Hindu Iboyaima Laithangbam Close video parlours, say women activists
IMPHAL: Student groups and other organisations took out a procession from the MLA hostel to the Raj Bhavan in Kohima, Nagaland, on Monday, demanding deterrent punishment to Pezazoto Savino, accused of raping and murdering a teacher from Kerala on May 5. The demonstration was organised, among others, by the Naga Students Federation, the Naga Mothers Association and social groups. It is said the victim, a mother of two, had been teaching for nine years in the Government school, Mezoma. She used to walk six km to school daily. The accused, a dropout, tried to attack her twice earlier. On May 5, he attacked her with a machete, raped and killed her and hid the body in a gorge. The villagers nabbed Savino and handed him over to the police. Student organisations and social workers are demanding capital punishment for the accused.
Third crime
This is the third sensational rape case in recent past in Kohima. Rape crimes are few and far between here. The Nagas do not take lightly crimes against women. In a midnight assault, a girl from Manipur's Ukhrul district was raped in a tourist bus by the ringleader of a looter gang in Nagaland. A strong protest by the people and the Manipur Government led to the arrest of the culprit. On April 15 a girl from Senapati district of Manipur was gang-raped and murdered by four Bangladesh immigrants in Kohima. The body of the girl, who was running a cigarette and snacks kiosk, was dumped in a ditch. Following processions and sit-ins in Manipur, the Nagaland police swung into action. Two culprits were arrested in Meghalaya and the others are still at large. Social workers and women activists told The Hindu that there was an increase in crimes against women.
NSCN(I-M) leaders arrive in Nagaland today
KOHIMA, May 9 – After a series of talks with the Central leaders in New Delhi, NSCN(I-M) general secretary Th Muivah and others arrive in Nagaland tomorrow to inform the Naga people about the progress of political parleys, reports PTI. Top NSCN(I-M) leaders engaged in parleys with a group of ministers for past over three months to find a negotiated settlement to the Naga problem, but made no breakthrough so far even as both sides claimed that talks progressed well. Muivah is scheduled to arrive at Dimapur tomorrow and during the next few days, he would hold discussions with the representatives of Naga civil society groups, NGOs, students organisations and churches on the peace talks, NSCN(I-M) information and publicity in-charge, Kraibo Chawang told PTI today.

As the Naga People’s Convention on peace process in January reposed faith on NSCN(I-M) collective leadership to carry forward the peace talks with the Centre for finding an honourable settlement of the conflict, our general secretary felt it is his duty to inform the Naga people about the progress of talks as well as the difficulties, and he would be interested to get feed back from the people, Chawang said.
In a recent interview with BBC World Service, Muivah in no uncertain term stated that the Nagas would not accept anything than an Integrated Naga Homeland.
‘Satisfied’ KSU calls off agitation From Our Correspondent
SHILLONG, May 9 – Satisfied with the “positive response” of the State Government towards its demand for restructuring of the Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education (MBOSE), the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has decided to temporarily suspend its agitational programme on the issue. The Union was to have organised 12-hour road blockades in four Khasi-Jaintia Hills districts of the State for three consecutive days beginning from 6 p.m. on Monday. However, with the talks between the government and the students’ body yielding positive results on Monday, the proposed agitation has been suspended for the time being.

“The government’s response has been positive towards our demand and the Chief Minister gave us a commitment of solving the issue at the earliest,” Union president Samuel Jyrwa told The Assam Tribune soon after his meeting with Chief Minister DD Lapang at the Main Secretariat today. The Union would hold discussions with the government in the first week of June to assess the progress made in this direction, he added. “We have decided to temporarily suspend our agitation pending a solution by the government,” Jyrwa said, making it clear that the Union would not settle for anything less than the setting up of a separate board exclusively for the 10+2 section at Shillong. “We have an open mind on the issue,” he added.
“We are not demanding bifurcation of the MBOSE but the creation of a completely separate board to look after the 10+2 system with a full-time chairman and secretary with headquarters at Shillong,” he emphasized. The KSU had taken to the path of agitation due to what it deemed as “gross negligence” on part of the government to streamline the erratic functioning the MBOSE.


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