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02/10/2010: "Govt. to hold talks with NSCN (IM) leadership from April 1-10 NetIndian News Network"

Govt. to hold talks with NSCN (IM) leadership from April 1-10 NetIndian News Network

New Delhi, The Government today said the leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) had, at its invitation, proposed to come to India between April 1-10 to hold talks and carry forward the peace process.
An official press release said that, to that end, the Government would be appointing an interlocutor to facilitate the talks and to bring about an early solution.
Centre to resume talks with NSCN(IM) Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 9 – The Centre today announced resumption of dialogue with the NSCN (I-M). The Government of India will be appointing an interlocutor to facilitate the talks.
An official spokesman of the Home Ministry said that on the invitation of the Government of India, the NSCN (I-M) leadership has proposed to come to India between April 1- 10 to hold talks and carry forward the peace process.
“To that end, the Government of India will be appointing an Interlocutor to facilitate the talks and to bring about an early solution,” the spokesman said.
The Home Ministry, however is keeping the name of the interlocutor under tight wraps, given the mood of the Naga militant outfit.
NSCN (I-M) had raised objection to removal of former interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah by the UPA Government. They had threatened to walkout of the peace process leading to an impasse.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram after reviewing the progress of the NSCN (I-M) peace process had decided to take over and had directed formulation of fresh guidelines. The UPA had constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to negotiate with the Naga insurgent group. The status of the GoM under Oscar Fernandes also remains uncertain.
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai who had travelled to Nagaland soon after taking over is learnt to have conveyed to various civil society groups to urge the Naga militant groups to first unite before sitting for talks withGovernment of India.
The Nagaland Government has also been pressing the Central Government to start the peace process. N Rio Government has been petitioning the Prime Minister to take the stalled dialogue process forward.
Muivah to take part in talks Sushanta Talukdar
Centre to appoint interlocutor this week to facilitate Naga peace dialogue
— Photo: PTI

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi addressing a press conference after the North Eastern Council meeting in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Guwahati: National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has agreed to participate in the next round of peace talks with the Centre in April. Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai revealed this here on Tuesday while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 58th meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
The peace talks between the NSCN(I-M) and New Delhi was deadlocked for nearly one year, with the last round of talks held in March 2009. Mr. Pillai said the Centre would appoint an interlocutor later this week for facilitating the peace talks.
In 2009, the Centre did not extend the tenure of the previous interlocutor, K. Padmanabhaiah, and held direct talks with the NSCN(I-M) leadership.
The former Union Home Secretary, Padmanabhaiah, was appointed interlocutor in July 1999 initially for one year and his tenure was extended every year till 2009.
“On the invitation of the government of India, the NSCN (I-M) leadership has proposed to come to India between April 1 and 10, 2010 to hold talks and carry forward the peace process. To that end, the government of India will be appointing an interlocutor to facilitate the talks and to bring about an early solution,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said there had been some progress in the peace talks although it had been taking a lot of time. “One good thing happening is that all the three groups — NSCN(I-M), NSCN(Khaplang) and FGN [Federal Government of Nagaland] — have been meeting under public pressure on the Forum for Naga Reconciliation platform. They have so far held seven summits in Chiangmai (in Thailand) and have signed a covenant in the seventh summit for ceasefire among themselves,” the Chief Minister told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.
On the issue of holding talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the Home Secretary said the recommendations of the official-level discussion held recently would soon be placed before Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who would take the final decision.
Options to be placed Asked if the talks would be held with the jailed leaders of the outfit and minus the elusive commander-in-chief of ULFA Paresh Barua, Mr. Pillai said a strategy was being worked out and various options would be placed before the political leaders. Asked if the government had any information on the whereabouts of Barua, the Home Secretary said there were reports of the ULFA C-in-C travelling to Kunming in China primarily to take shelter and possibly to procure arms. He could now be on the Kachin-China border.
He said pressure was being mounted on the ULFA C-in-C through Myanmar and a coordinated action by India and Myanmar would be taken as agreed by both countries during his [Mr. Pillai] visit to Myanmar.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that when the ULFA leaders came forward to hold peace talks it would be held in a dignified manner. “I do agree that nobody can talk with handcuffs on. The moment they agree to come forward for talks they will be arranged in a dignified manner.”
Mr. Gogoi said the government would like Barua too to come for talks but expressed doubt if he would respond positively.
No breakthrough Vinay Kumar reports from New Delhi
The peace process with the NSCN(I-M) was started in 1997 by putting in place a ceasefire arrangement. Since then, nearly 50 rounds of talks have been held without achieving any breakthrough.
Officials said the Centre was trying to bring all underground and tribal groups of Nagaland under one roof and hammer out a new political and economic solution acceptable to all. The Centre’s proposed package includes financial largesse, greater devolution of powers, special steps for the protection of Naga culture and heritage.
Assam asks Centre to curtail Naga rebel groups for helping ULFA : Brijnath MyNews.in
Guwahati: Assam government has asked the Centre to prevent two factions of the Naga rebel group Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) Isak Muivah and NSCN Khaplang in truce from providing logistics support to ULFA in Myanmar base and indulging in violence inAssam’s border districts.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "Right from the inception of the ULFA, Myanmar-based NSCN-K has been offering assistance and logistic support to the ULFA, which must be curtailed at this crucial juncture by the Central government."
"The activities of NSCN-IM, which has always been found involved in violent activities and extortions in the bordering districts ofAssam and Nagaland viz N C Hills, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia district, also need to be checked by enforcing ceasefire ground rules effectively," Gogoi added.

Both the NSCN-K and NSCN-IM have been in ceasefire with government of India for over a decade now. The NSCN-IM has been holding on-and-off peace-talks with the government of India to find a solution to the vexed Naga insurgency problem, while there have not been any talks between the NSCN-K and the Centre yet.
The NSCN-K led by S S Khaplang, a Burmese Naga, has a strong base in Myanmar, where it allows many rebel North East groups, including the ULFA, to set up bases.

Meanwhile, about the chances of holding talks with the banned ULFA in near future, Gogoi said the fugitive commander-in-chief of the banned outfit, Paresh Baruah, is out to derail chances of any peace process taking place in the wake of arrests of most of the top leaders of the outfit recently.
Gogoi said, "Paresh Baruah, who has reportedly shifted his base from Bangladesh to Myanmar with a handful of his supporters, is trying to regroup and derail the peace process, which seems to be in the offing with the arrest of most of the top leaders of ULFA."
He underlined the need for gearing up vigil along the Indo-Myanmar border by advancing the border outposts manned by the Assam Rifles closer to the Indo-Myanmar border, so that extremist and anti-national elements cannot sneak into Assam through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur to launch recruitment drives and other terror strikes.

Gogoi termed the anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland led by fugitive chairman Ranjan Daimary, who is believed to be hiding in Bangladesh, was a danger to peace inAssam.
Talks with NSCN leaders on, NIA case against them New Delhi: Indian Express
Even as the Centre on Tuesday announced its decision to resume talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) — NSCN(IM) — it is learnt that a case was registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last month against top leaders of the outfit for trying to revive its activities in the Northeast. The investigations are in an advanced stage, as per sources.
While NIA officials refused to confirm or deny the registration of the case, sources told The Indian Express that the investigators had also zeroed in on money trails connected to their activities. They said the case was handed over to the NIA after “due deliberations” by the Union Home Ministry.
“They were planning to carry out something big,” said a senior functionary of the Union Home Ministry, who is aware of the details of the case. Asked if some Chinese agencies, which have in the past also reportedly backed the outfit’s activities, could again be helping it revive itself, the officer said, “Nothing is ruled out, but I can’t share anything else.”
Last month, the Meghalaya Police had complained to the Centre over incidents of NSCN-IM supporting the newly-formed Hynniewtrep Liberation Force to foment violence. “NSCN (IM) activities are no secret,” said Meghalaya DGP S B Kakati.
On Tuesday, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai announced that the Centre was in the process of appointing a new interlocutor for the talks, which are scheduled to be held in April. The Centre announced that the Naga militant group’s chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah would come to India to try and find a lasting solution to the six-decade-old insurgency. “On the invitation of the Government of India, the NSCN (IM) leadership has proposed to come to India between April 1-10 to hold talks and carry forward the peace process,” Pillai told reporters.
There has been s a ceasefire agreement in existence between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) since August 1997. Former Union home secretary K Padmanabhaiah had been the interlocutor for talks with NSCN-IM since July 1999 but was not given an extension last year.
India prods Myanmar to capture Barua Indian Express Prasanta MazumdarExpressbuzz
GUWAHATI: India has asked Myanmar to help capture or flush out the militants from the Northeast, in particular elusive Ulfa military chief Paresh Barua.
“I was in Myanmar last month and we had some useful discussions.
We are hopeful that Myanmar will launch an operation (against the militants) at the earliest,” Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told newspersons on the sidelines of the 58th meeting of the North Eastern Council here on Tuesday. Pillai said the Ulfa military chief was probably hiding somewhere along the Kachin-China border.
However, he could not specify the whereabouts of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) chief Ranjan Daimari.
Daimari is wanted in a number of cases, including the October 30, 2008 serial bombings in Assam.
A large number of militants from the Northeast are believed to be holed up in the Sagaing division of Myanmar. It is here the Ulfa is reportedly receiving arms training from the Naga militants.
Pillai said he had already taken up the matter with the two factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Nagalim.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi felt that the Ulfa could be contained if its links with the Naga militants both within and outside the country were snapped.
Asked about peace talks with the Ulfa, the Union Home Secretary said, “We are in the process; working out strategies. (Our) Recommendations will be submitted to the Home Minister.
The Home Minister and the Chief Minister will then take the final decision (on how to go about for talks with the Ulfa)” On talks with the Naga militant group NSCN (I-M), Pillai said the outfit’s general secretary Th Muivah, who is now away in Thailand, would visit the country in April to discuss the counter-proposals with the Centre.
The NSCN (I-M) had earlier submitted a 29-point proposal to the Centre to hammer out a solution to the Naga political problem.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said his government was hopeful of a solution to the more than 60-year-old problem.
“There is tremendous pressure on them (insurgents) from the civil societies and the churches for reconciliation. As a result, they are meeting quite often now.

Swu, Muivah expected in April - DELHI TO ANNOUNCE INTERLOCUTOR, SAYS PILLAI OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
Guwahati/Kohima, Feb. 9: The Centre today announced that the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) leadership had proposed to come to India for talks in April and that an interlocutor would be named by this week.
Union home secretary G.K. Pillai announced this on the sidelines of the 58th North Eastern Council meeting at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati during an unscheduled interaction with reporters.
“You will be happy to know that the NSCN (I-M) leadership has agreed to come for talks to be held in April. We have also decided to name an interlocutor for the talks by this week,” he said.
On the proposals to be discussed with the Naga leaders, Pillai said these would be discussed with the NSCN leadership before being divulged.
Sources said the Centre had prepared a 29-point counter proposal to the 31-point charter of proposals submitted by the Isak-Muivah group to hammer out a solution to the over 60-year-old Naga political imbroglio. The two sides have held over 60 rounds of talks since 1998, but an acceptable solution remains elusive.
While official sources said the Naga leaders had agreed to come between April 1 and 10, the group said the visit of its chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thiungaleng Muivah would be decided by the joint council of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim.
The GPRN’s kilonser (minister) for information and publicity, Vikiye Sumi, told this correspondent that they had not received any communiqué about the proposed visit of their leaders, but it would be decided by the joint council.
Rh. Raising, the secretary of steering committee, the highest policy making body of the NSCN, said according to the agreement with the Centre, the talks should be held at the prime ministerial level, in a third country and without pre-condition.
However, Swu and Muivah are prepared to come to India to discuss the Naga issue with Indian leaders if the Centre is sincere about hammering out a solution, he added.
But, Raising said the group had “nothing to discuss with the Indian home ministry” and had turned down two invitations from the ministry of home affairs.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who attended the NEC meet, said the prospects of an amicable solution had brightened and all the groups were in a reconciliatory mood because of public pressure.
“I hope there is some progress as the leaders are likely to come to India. The reconciliation process has reached the district level to bring the groups together,” he added.
He, however, pointed out that the process has been on for 12 years, reflecting the patience of the Naga people. The NSCN (I-M) announced a ceasefire in 1997.
Oh, Manipur By B G Verghese
Grievances need to be addressed, together with development to generate productive jobs in this highly literate state.
It is often with a resigned ‘Oh, Manipur’ and a shrug that observers refer to what is widely perceived to be the North East’s most difficult problem area. The record of violence, alienation, multiple insurgencies, human rights violations, ethnic conflict, extortion, corruption, missed development opportunities, stand-offs, protest and despair is certainly worrying. However, the picture can be overdrawn as a recent visit to Imphal suggests. Behind the turmoil and seeming sense of helplessness is a perhaps fugitive yet discernible feeling that a turn around is possible, and in fairly short measure.
Some background. Manipur is one of the oldest principalities in India with a proud and unbroken history of nearly 2,000 years. It was invaded during the Second World by the Japanese who were finally turned back from the gates of Imphal as of Kohima. This churning sparked revolutionary fervour throughout the region.

On August 11, 1947, the Manipur maharaja signed an instrument of accession ceding defence, foreign affairs and communications to the Indian Union but adopted a new state constitution under which elections were held with adult franchise to install a popular government. A non-Congress coalition was formed but its left leanings caused the Manipur Congress to seek merger with the Union. This was effected on October 15, 1949, the maharaja allegedly signing under duress.

Many Manipuris still resent what they perceive to be a forced merger that denied them the autonomous political space they sought. Other aggravating factors are recounted as part of the historical imagination underlying and continuing Meitei protest. An ancient kingdom was brought under a chief commissioner and not granted the statehood until much later. The Meitei language was not given 8th Schedule status until still later.
Myanmar’s de facto sovereignty over the Kubaw Valley, was made de jure in 1953. The valley Meiteis lost out to the scheduled tribe hill people in terms of land purchase rights and reservations. And Kangla Fort, the symbol of Meitei pride was occupied by the Assam Rifles until a few years ago.

Hurt pride rankled and provided the emotional basis for Meitei separatism even as sharpening and, sometimes, competing identity formation in the Hills led to further polarisation. The numerous insurgent groups in Manipur are ideologically left oriented, with varying undertones of pre-Vaishnavite Metei revivalism and native ‘nationalism.’
The Nagas are divided between the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) who, like a clutch of southern Kuki groups, have entered into ceasefire or suspension of operation agreements with the government. Insurrectionary violence is therefore mainly limited to the valley though internecine conflicts, extortion and kidnappings are rampant. The almost open Myanmar border allows various underground groups to find sanctuary on the other side and engage in smuggling narcotics, arms and other goods.

Naga integration
The NSCN (IM) has probably come to realise that integration of all Naga inhabited areas or Nagalim is not on the cards. Manipur, for one, cannot be divided. The social, cultural and even political objective of Naga togetherness can however be largely attained through a variety of non-territorial adjustments that do not undermine existing state boundaries.

Many issues have been resolved over time. The outstanding grievance relates to continuance of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which has lately been withdrawn from the Greater Imphal municipal area and is largely inoperative in the Hill areas that are under suspension of operation arrangements. Yet it looms large as a huge political affront and psychological hurt, with Irom Sharmila on hunger fast for a decade and Meitei women disrobing before security forces to demonstrate their indignation.
The Jeevan Reddy Committee in 2005 recommended AFSPA’s repeal and incorporation of certain of its provisions in the existing Unlawful Activities Act, something endorsed by the Moily Administrative Reforms Commission’s report. The Centre has promised action but must act expeditiously. This one gesture will be a balm, enable Irmila to break her fast and transform Metei sentiment.

Various grievances need to be addressed, together with the imperative of development to generate productive jobs for the rising tide of educated unemployed in this highly literate state. Development is not a panacea but can be a solvent for many ills.
The Tipaiamukh project, regarding which residual objections appear more ideological and nominal than real on account of inadequate communication, purposeful implementation of the Look East policy and speedy upgradation of the Silchar-Imphal Highway could provide a welcome development thrust.

Talks with the NSCN-IM must be carried forward on the basis of the proposals exchanged. Kuki groups must also come to the negotiating table and should not be too difficult to satisfy. Hard liners on all sides are likely to be isolated by a groundswell in favour of peace and progress.

The old hurt about ‘forced merger’ could hopefully be removed should the Assembly adopt a resolution ‘reaffirming’ Manipur’s merger in 1949 simultaneously with the announcement of the proposed political and economic package for the state. With concerted action, the hope that Manipur might turn the corner within the next three to four years may not be just a pipe dream given a benign spell of President’s rule followed by general elections.