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02/11/2010: "New interlocutor for talks with NSCN (IM) Thai-Indian News by IANS"
New interlocutor for talks with NSCN (IM) Thai-Indian News by IANS
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The government Thursday appointed former petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey as its new interlocutor to facilitate dialogue with the major insurgent outfit, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).
Pandey has been chosen for the assignment as he has served as chief secretary in Nagaland and is said to have a good grasp of the issues that have led to the long spell of insurgency in this north-eastern border state, government officials said.
The deadlocked peace talks between New Delhi and the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN will resume in April after more than a year.
The last round of peace talks between the central government and the frontline Naga separatist group was held in March 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland. It ended in a stalemate.
The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, had entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in August 1997.
K. Padmanabhaiah, a former home secretary, had served as interlocutor for talks with NSCN-IM for a decade.
He was first appointed as interlocutor for Naga talks in July 1999 for one year but kept getting extensions.
Last year, the government chose not to extend his term and instead decided it would hold direct negotiations with the rebels to find a lasting solution to the vexed issue of insurgency in Nagaland.
Blockade supporters stone trucks on NH-39, damage windshields
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 10, 2010: Windshields of at least six Imphal bound goods laden trucks broke down in stoning by the blockade supporters on the way at Senapati last night about 11 pm, seven hour before the relaxation of the economic blockade imposed by the Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).
The striking SDSA has relaxed the blockade for 36 hour effective from 6 am of today till 6 pm of tomorrow (February 11).The blockade commenced from February 2 last.
Police said that the six trucks were among around 50 vehicles which left Mao gate without security escort last night on hearing news of relaxation even though the relaxation was yet to take effect at that time.
When the trucks reached Senapati at about 11 am, suspected blockade supporters turned out and attacked the trucks with stones.
Amidst the heavy shower of stones, the trucks managed to cross the portion of the highway last night itself.
In the stoning, windshields of at least six trucks were broke down, police said, adding that truckers suffered no casualty.
On the other hand, with the relaxation of the economic blockade begining at 6 am today, all goods ferrying trucks stranded at Khuzuma beyond the Mao gate on Nagaland side left for Imphal.
No further untoward incident occurred to them, reports said.
However, oil tankers stranded at Khatkati in Assam bordering Dimapur of Nagaland are still there waiting for security escort to be provided by the Nagaland police.
Tankers have been stranding there for the last around 10 days causing scarcity of petroleum products in Imphal.
All the petrol retail outlets in Imphal and its outskirts have been closed for the last five days which compelled people to buy fuels from black marketers who have emerged openly nearby the outlets.
Prices of the petrol in the black markets rose to Rs 60 per litre at the minimum.
The SDSA has imposed the bandh in protest against government's failure to repair the deteriorated condition of NH-39 along the stretch of highway within the Senapati district despite repeated plea and assurance from the state government.
NSCN on talks morungexpress
Kohima, February 10 (MExN): Reacting to news about the visit of the collective leadership of National Socialist Council of Nagalim to India, which emanated from the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, the NSCN has said that its leadership may consider visiting India if invited from the highest level, that is, from the Prime Minister of India.
Vikiye Sumi, ‘kilonser’ of the outfit’s “information & publicity” wing said that so far the group has not received any report or communication from the government of India about the visit of Isak Chishi Swu and Thiungaleng Muvah to New Delhi during April 1-10. He said the NSCN had clarified time and again that whatever proposal for the visit of the collective leadership, should be through the Prime Minister’s Office and not from the Ministry of Home Affairs. ‘Therefore we have not planned to visit India for talk during that time,’ Sumi clarified. He said the NSCN has been insisting New Delhi for the talks to be at the prime minister-level and not at the Home Ministry-level.
Also, reacting to a report of NSCN scaling down its demand to “greater Nagalim” from “sovereignty,” Sumi said ‘they have nothing to do with greater or smaller Nagalim.’
