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03/01/2010: "Muivah arrives as focus returns to Naga talks morungexpress"

Muivah arrives as focus returns to Naga talks morungexpress

General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Th Muivah arriving at the reception hosted for him at New Delhi late Saturday evening.

Dimapur, February 28 (MExN): General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim Th Muivah has arrived in New Delhi late Saturday night at the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, sources informed. In this connection, the Nagas in Delhi organized a Reception Program at 61 Lodi Estate, Lodi Road where over 1000 people attended. According to a press communiqué from New Delhi based “The Naga Times”, the documentary films-‘Nagalim: Pilgrims for Peace’ by Sam Kalayanee and ‘Naga Story: The Other Side of Silence’ by Gopal Menon were shown before dinner was served to the mass. As soon as the Collective Leadership arrived at Lodi Estate, Luikang Lamak, President, the Naga Students’ Union, Delhi gave a welcome speech which was followed by Shawl presentation to the leadership by the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union, Delhi. The press communiqué informed that the Collective Leadership delivered an awe-inspiring message to the audience.
The press communiqué while terming the present visit as very important also disclosed that after several rounds of talks, the Government of India on September 15, 2008 suggested an idea of an Interim Arrangement to the NSCN leaders. However, as the GOI has not formulated any Blueprint or Roadmap of the Interim Arrangement, the parties decided to meet soon for discussion, it stated. On September 30, 2008, the parties decided to have dialogues outside, i.e., in the third country, so as to uphold the terms of talk agreed upon by both the entities. It was further revealed that on December 5, 2008, the GOI brought forward a formula akin to Mizo Accord of 1986 which, however, was strongly rejected by the Naga leaders due to the fact that histories, cultures and identities between the Nagas and the Mizos are different.
According to the press note from the Naga Times, the GOI representatives admitted their mistake saying that ‘It was wrong on their part to have misused the political term’.
The last meeting between the two parties was held from 24-25 March 2009 in Zurich where the GOI’s delegation told the NSCN leaders that they have not been given any mandate for the political talk. The Naga leaders were told that negotiations should resume after the 15th Lok Sabha elections. “Since then, a lot of grave incidents have taken place such as, Sri Lankan military crackdown on the LTTE, military crackdown on Taliban in Afghanistan, 26/11 Mumbai Attack etc. which have led the GOI hardened its mind to solve and transform the Indo-Naga conflict”, the Naga Times stated. Even after the UPA-II government formation, the GOI was not serious enough to resume talks except talking through the media, it went on to state.
Calling for a concrete political roadmap informed by the principles of democracy, historical and political rights, justice and human dignity, the press note stated that the need of the hour is for an early solution mutually acceptable to both the parties.

Stage set for GoI-NSCN (IM) talks

New Delhi/Dimapur, February 28 (AGENCIES): Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi next week, Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said on Saturday. Mr. Pillai told journalists on the sidelines of a special attestation parade held at the Assam rifles Training Centre and School here in Dimapur that Mr. Muivah was on his way to New Delhi for the next round of peace talks. He was coming at the invitation of the government.
He said there would be a sustained dialogue with the NSCN (IM) and the government would be as flexible as possible to solve the problem with peace and honour. Mr. Pillai said he was hopeful of a positive outcome, though he refused to divulge the agenda. Since the government initiated the talks, it would continue the process and try to bring it to a conclusion. He, however, said a final solution had to be worked out with all underground groups.
Representatives of Western Sumi Hoho urged Mr. Pillai to convey to the Centre that all underground groups should be taken on board before a solution is arrived at. They told him that it was the people who suffered, as they had to pay taxes to the elected government as well as the parallel governments run by the underground groups. Women groups said women and children were the worst sufferers of the prolonged conflict.

Sandeep Dikshit reports from New Delhi:
Naga leaders will also hold talks with R.S. Pandey, a former Petroleum Secretary and former Chief Secretary of Nagaland, who has recently been appointed as interlocutor, official sources said. “The political maturity exhibited by the two entities is highly appreciated. The Nagas hope both will demonstrate the political will and come up with an honourable solution to the protracted conflict. To demonstrate our support to both the entities, the Nagas in Delhi are organising a reception for all the NSCN,” said Abu of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights.
The NSCN and the Indian government opened a political dialogue in 1997 and have held 67 rounds of talks so far. The last round, held in March 2009 in Zurich, remained inconclusive. Mr. Muivah is also expected to travel to Nagaland to take stock of the situation arising out of the clashes between his larger NSCN faction and another led by S.S. Khaplang.

'Govt responsible for Nagaland deadlock' IST Times Now
On arriving in New Delhi NSCN-IM General Secretary T Muivah set the tone for talks. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, the Naga leader made it clear that the fight for Nagaland's sovereignty will not be compromised.

Accusing the Indian government of using delaying tactics over the issue of Nagaland, Muivah is firm on demanding a resolution.

"It has been a very long time now, since we have been talking with the government of India. And it is high time, now they should take measures. It's been more than 10 years, yet they could not solve any problems, they are responsible for that, not me. When the Prime Minister invited me and a few others, we must respect his invitation, and we really think that he is take metter seriously now," said Muivah.

Muivah arrived in India after being invited to hold talks by the government of India. A new interlocutor former Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey had also been appointed to take the talks forward.

Sources tell TIMES NOW the top Naga rebel leader is also likely to call on the Prime Minister and Home Minister P Chidambaram during the course of his visit.

NSCN (I-M) claims it has people’s mandate to hold peace talks PTI The Hindu
Taking strong exception to its rival’s assertions on the proposed peace talks between Naga leaders and the Centre, NSCN(I-) on Sunday claimed that it had the “unequivocal mandate” of the people to hold political dialogue on their behalf.
Dismissing the recent statement of its rival NSCN(K) on peace parleys as “unwarranted and misleading”, the NSCN(I-M) said it had been holding talks with the Government of India since 1997 as a single entity representing the entire Naga group.
Led by its general secretary Th Muivah, the NSCN(I-M) leaders who arrived in New Delhi last night, will resume the stalled peace talks this week to carry forward the process for finding a settlement to the vexed political conflict.
In a statement issue here, the outfit said the NSCN (I-M) had already conducted four to five rounds of consultative meetings with representatives of various Naga tribes on the ongoing peace process.
During such a discussion at its headquarters ‘Camp Hebron’ in January 2005, the Naga people gave “unequivocal mandate” to the outfit to carry on the political dialogue with the Government of India more actively to clinch an honourable settlement for all the Nagas and the Nagalim at the earliest, the statement claimed.
“In spite of their misleading and confused write-ups, the Naga people undoubtedly know who is who and who holds the (Naga) issue,” the statement said.
Earlier, led by S S Khaplang, GPRN/NSCN had asserted that the proposed political dialogue between the NSCN(I—M) and the Centre cannot represent the voices of the entire Naga community.
“It would merely be like talks between two parties on their own domestic matters. But it cannot be regarded as a political talk,” they said.
Asserting that the Naga political problem should be solved by the Nagas themselves, the GPRN/NSCN said it would be possible only after achieving the goal of reconciliation and unity in Nagaland.
“Therefore, any discussion between Muivah and Indian leaders on Naga political issue at this stage would be premature and unwise,” the rival group had said.
However, both groups of NSCN had expressed their commitments towards the ongoing peace and reconciliation process initiated by churches and NGOs under the banner of the Forum for Naga Re-conciliation (FNR) and had signed the ’Covenant of Reconciliation’ last year at Siang Mai in Thailand.
The FNR has been holding series of meetings for the past one-and-a-half years with leaders of different underground groups and Naga tribes to make reconciliation and unity among badly divided Nagas a reality.
The reconciliation campaign was welcomed by the government as well as the people since factional killings among Naga groups came down drastically but kidnappings for ransom and extortions were on in Nagaland.
Although the people here at large welcomed the resumption of deadlocked peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M), they at the same time insisted that the Union government should bring all Naga underground groups under the purview of the peace process, since a permanent settlement to the protracted conflict is not possible with a single faction.
Representatives of tribal hohos (councils) based at Dimapur yesterday conveyed the same sentiment while interacting briefly with Union Home Secretary G K Pillai insisting on making the peace process inclusive.
Pillai, who came here to attend an Assam Rifles function, said since Naga problem was a complex one, it needed innovative and imaginative solutions.
Hoping that the Naga problem would be resolved in the next 12 to 24 months if all involved in the process could show sincerity, Pillai said sustained efforts were on to bring other underground groups to the negotiation table.
Naga rebel leaders arriving in Delhi on Sunday New Delhi, Feb 27 (ANI): The banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) - Isak Muivah faction chairman Isak Chisi Swu along with its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah will arrive here on Sunday to move forward the vexed Naga peace process.
Both Isak and Muivah will hold talks with newly appointed pointsman R. S. Pandey.

Earlier this month, the Centre appointed Pandey replacing former Home Secretary Padmanabhaiyya, who held talks with Naga insurgent groups for over nine years.

Isak and Muivah are coming to India after a gap of over three years. Last time both the leaders held the talks with the Centre in December 2006.

The two top Naga rebel leaders are based in Netherland's capital Amsterdam.

Apart from holding talks with Pandey, both Isak and Muivah are expected to meet Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

Naga rebel leaders are also likely to meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh after his return from the Saudi Arabia. (ANI)

IM blasts K’s statement on meet with PM The Imphal Free Press Newmai News Network

Dimapur, Feb 27: Reacting to the NSCN-K press statement yesterday, the NSCN-IM today said that the latter outfit is never discoraged or buffed up by such statements.

The NSCN-K had said yesterday that the NSCN-IM and Government of India talk is just a meeting but never a political dialogue.

The NSCN-K also said that NSCN-IM leader Th. Muivah can only take up social issues and problems of Ukhrul district but not a Naga issue.

Reacting to that NSCN-K statement, the NSCN-IM said today that it takes `serious note of the unwarranted and misleading press statement of the Kehoi campers (NSCN-K) carried in the local dailies`.

The outfit said that the NSCN-IM is never discouraged or buffed up by any writing or speeches made by some disgruntled people in the name of Naga freedom fighters and at the behest of their pay masters, the adversaries of the Naga people. "Such write ups never harm anybody or organizations of Nagalim. This only exhibit and magnifies their silliness and ignorance. Their writings clearly explain who they are and what their motives are. The Naga people readily understand whether they are working for the good of the Nagas or for the adversary of the Nagas. In spite of their misleading and confused write-ups the Naga people undoubtedly knows who is who and who hold the issue, and that, the NSCN under the Leadership of Isak Chisi Swu, Th. Muivah and Khodao Yanthan is not a confused political organization," the NSCN-IM said.

It also said that the NSCN-IM once again reminds the NSCN-K of the fact that the political dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM representing the entire Nagas is going on from 1997 till today as the two separate entities. The NSCN-IM had already conducted four – five Naga consultation meetings in respect of the ongoing peace talks and in Jan.2005 the consultation meeting was held at camp Hebron, in which more than 8000 (eight thousand) people representing different sections of Naga people including Naga Hoho, apex tribal Hohos and frontal Naga public forums attended, in this meeting the Naga people gave unequivocal mandate to NSCN leadership to carry on the political dialogue with the GoI more actively to clinch an honorable settlement for all the Nagas and the Nagalim at the earliest. With the strength of the aforesaid mandate the NSCN leadership has been negotiating with the GoI.

"Regarding the ongoing reconciliation and unity process, it has been made amply clear that the same is a domestic problem and it is an internal issue of the Nagas. Reconciliation and unity process under no circumstances can condition the political dialogue between the GOI and the Nagas lead by NSCN," the NSCN-IM said.

"In their write-ups the Kehoi campers (NSCN-K) mentioned the name of Th. Muivah several times which clearly shows their immature political mindset with vested interest, biased and hatred towards a particular leader and tribe. They should keep in mind that Th. Muivah is not talking with India for him or for his tribe. But he has been shouldering the rare noble responsibility on behalf of all the Nagas. The GoI through its notorious agencies and some Naga idiots who have no political vision can never undo the NSCN work.

The NSCN is firm and determined for the righteous and sacred cause of all the Nagas," the NSCN-IM statement said.

Talks with GoI for entire Nagas: NSCN (IM) morungexpress
Dimapur, February 27 (MExN): The National Socialist Council of Nagalim has said that the political dialogue between the GoI and the NSCN (IM) represents the entire Nagas and this has been going on from 1997 till today as two separate entities. A press note from the MIP informed that the NSCN had already conducted four–five Naga consultation meetings in respect of the ongoing peace talks. In January 2005 the consultation meeting was held at camp Hebron in which more than eight-thousand people representing different sections of the Naga people including the Naga Hoho, apex tribal hohos and frontal Naga public forums attended.
According to the MIP note, in this meeting the “Naga people” gave what was termed as “unequivocal mandate to NSCN leadership to carry on the political dialogue with the GoI more actively to clinch an honorable settlement for all the Nagas and the Nagalim at the earliest.” “With the strength of the aforesaid ‘mandate’ the NSCN leadership has been negotiating with the GoI,” it stated. The MIP note was responding to what it described as the “unwarranted and misleading press statement of the Kehoi campers (so-called NSCN united) carried in the local dailies on the 26th February 2010 issue.”
The NSCN (IM) stated that it was “never discouraged or buffed up by any writing or speeches made by some disgruntled people in the name of Naga freedom fighters and at the behest of their pay masters, the adversaries of the Naga people.” Pointing out that such write-ups “never harm anybody or organizations of Nagalim,” the MIP note stated that it only exhibits and magnifies “their silliness and ignorance.”
“Their writings clearly explain who they are and what their motives are. The Naga people readily understand whether they are working for the good of the Nagas or for the adversary of the Nagas. In spite of their misleading and confused write-ups the Naga people undoubtedly knows who is who and who hold the issue, and that, the NSCN under the leadership of Isak Chisi Swu, Th. Muivah and Khodao Yanthan is not a confused political organization,” the MIP note asserted.
Regarding the ongoing reconciliation and unity process, the NSCN (IM) said that it has been made amply clear it is a ‘domestic problem’ and an internal issue of the Nagas. “Reconciliation and unity process under no circumstances can condition the political dialogue between the GOI and the Nagas led by NSCN,” the MIP stated. “In their write-ups the Kehoi campers mentioned the name of Th. Muivah several times which clearly shows their immature political mindset with vested interest, biased and hatred towards a particular leader and tribe,” the NSCN (IM) said. “Th. Muivah is not talking with India for him or for his tribe” but that he “has been shouldering the rare noble responsibility on behalf of all the Nagas.”
“The GoI through its notorious agencies and some Naga idiots who have no future political vision can never undo the working of the NSCN at any cost. The NSCN is firm and determined for the righteous and sacred cause of all the Nagas,” the NSCN (IM) added.