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03/03/2010: "NSCN (I-M) submits 30-pt demands, (PTI/Agencies):"



NSCN (I-M) submits 30-pt demands, (PTI/Agencies):



Union home minister, P. Chidambaram (c), NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah (next to Chidambaram’ right) and other Naga leaders and Indian representatives during the meeting at New Delhi, Tuesday. (courtesy: NSCN-IM)
NEW DELHI In a fresh bid to solve the vexed Naga issue, NSCN-IM today held the first round of talks with the government’s newly appointed pointsman R S Pandey during which the group submitted a list of 30 demands that includes sovereignty for Nagaland.
The meeting, held at undisclosed location, lasted for about 90 minutes during which a NSCN-IM delegation led by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah submitted their 30-point demands, sources said.
The meeting which was seen more as an “informal type”, as pointed out by a delegate at the meeting, was held to know the new interlocutor who had helped Muivah in renewing his expired passport, they said, adding another round will be held tomorrow.
Pandey, while giving a patient hearing to the Naga leaders, conveyed to them that there was no possibility of sovereignty for Nagaland and the talks could be held around granting more autonomy.
More autonomy
The Centre, which held a fresh round of talks with NSCN (I-M) leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday, has offered more autonomy for Nagaland but won’t integrate Naga-inhabited parts of Arunachal to Nagaland.
Government is willing to give more autonomy, perhaps even a flag to the Naga’s under Article 371 (A), reported NDTV.
The Centre has prepared a 29-point counter proposal for the discussions this time, which includes financial sops and greater autonomy. The Naga leaders met prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.
NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah during his meet with prime minister Manmohan Singh is understood to have conveyed the seriousness of his outfit to find a lasting solution to the Naga issue.
Muivah later met union home minister P Chidambaram during which the two sides had a comprehensive discussion on finding a lasting solution to the six-decade old vexed issue which includes boundary dispute with neighbouring Manipur and Assam.
“The government hasn’t given us any counter proposal, we have had comprehensive discussion, we will continue with the talks,” Muivah told reporters after the meeting. “If the Centre is serious then we will talk,” he said.
While the Centre said this time there would be no discussion on sovereignty Muivah has said the NSCN (I-M) would not compromise on sovereignty. Besides Chidambaram, others present at the hour-long meeting were Home Secretary G K Pillai and Special Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal.
Sources say the government has formalised a peace formula to break the deadlock with Naga rebels who are holding the first round of talks with the government in the New Delhi.
Sources say the government is proposing the setting up of a Naga body without territorial jurisdiction but one that would have Constitutional sanction, according to Times Now.
This government proposal would be in exchange for the NSCN (I-M) withdrawing its demand for sovereignty. So far, the NSCN (I-M) has been demanding sovereignty for Nagaland.
But, the Naga rebel leader who has been invited for talks to India by the prime minister has made his stand clear more than once that there will be no compromise on the issue of sovereignty.
PM reassures
DIMAPUR, MAR 2 (NPN): Prime minister, Manmohan Singh has reassured the NSCN (I-M) about the sincerity of the government to find an honorable political settlement to the Naga issue which would be acceptable to both the parties at the earliest.
According to NSCN (I-M) chief principal secretary, Samson Jajo, the delegation led by general secretary, Th. Muivah along with speaker ‘Tatar’ Hoho, Qhevihe Chishi Swu and member steering committee, Tongmeth Wangnao on Tuesday met the prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at 11 a.m in New Delhi.
The meeting lasted for 40 minutes.
Later in the afternoon, the NSCN (I-M) delegation met the home minister, P. Chidambaram along with a host of high officials at 1:00 pm.
“It was categorically made known to the Indian Home Minister that Nagas will not accept any imposition on the Nagas but only through negotiated settlement. Any insult to the Nagas will only drive the Nagas further away from the Indians,” Jajo said in a statement.
He said the Naga delegation made the stand of the NSCN (I-M) very clear to the home minister, despite the ‘betrayal’ of the government of India one after another in the past more than one decade of political talks. Jajo said Chidambaram expressed keenness and sincerity to settle the issue as early as possible. The meeting with the home minister lasted for more than an hour.
Jajo informed that the formal meeting with the newly appointed interlocutor R.S. Pandey representative of the government of India would begin on March 3. He said both sides have agreed to hold the talks with utmost sincerity for an early negotiated political settlement. “The news media report about Muivah being not happy with the interlocutor is bogus,” he added.
Muivah meets PM, HM, submits 30-point demand GoI rules out sovereignty, offers more autonomy Eastern Mirror
DIMAPUR, MAR 2 (EMN): The Government of India has reportedly ruled out possibility of sovereignty for Nagaland and offered to work around granting more autonomy on day one of the resumption of political dialogue with the NSCN-IM at New Delhi today.
The political dialogue between the GoI and the NSCN-IM, to find a permanent amicable solution to the long-drawn Indo-Naga issue, resumed today with NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the early part of the day. This was the second such meeting in the past five years. Muivah along with the NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu had met Singh earlier during their visit in 2006.
The NSCN-IM leader later met with Home Minister Chidambaram before sitting out for the first time with newly appointed interlocutor RS Pandey.
Various sections of the national media quoting government sources reported that the GoI has offered ‘wide autonomy’ to Nagas while ruling out demand of sovereignty.
Most sections of the media reported that the Government has formalized, what they called ‘a new peace formula’ to break the deadlock with NSCN-IM. Quoting undisclosed Government sources, a leading national news website reported that the GoI ‘has a proposal to counter the Naga demands which would include a Naga body without territorial jurisdiction but with a Constitutional sanction.’
Talking to media persons after his meeting with Chidambaram, Muivah said “We had a comprehensive discussion and the NSCN-IM will continue the negotiation with the Government of India,” Muivah told reporters after the meeting.
“If the Centre is serious then we will talk,” he said.
Chidambaram reportedly expressed his keenness and sincerity to settle the issue as early as possible.
Besides Chidambaram, others present at the hour-long meeting were Home Secretary G K Pillai and Special Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal.
A press communiqué issued here by Samson Jajo, Chief Principal Secretary, NSCN-IM informed that the meeting with the Prime Minister lasted for 40 minutes during which the
Manmohan Singh has reassured the Naga delegation the sincerity of the GoI to find an honorable political settlement acceptable to both the parties at the earliest.
In its meeting with the Home Minister at 1 pm, the ‘Naga delegation made the stand of the NSCN very clear that, ‘despite the betrayal of the GOI one after another in the past more than one decade of political talks, the communiqué stated.
‘It was categorically made known to the Indian Home Minister that Nagas will not accept any imposition on the Nagas but only through negotiated settlement. Any insult to the Nagas will only drive the Nagas further away from the Indians’, the NSCN-IM Chief Principal Secretary informed.
The NSCN-IM also rubbished media reports about Muivah being not happy with the interlocutor RS Pandey.
Ato Kilonser Th. Muivah is being accompanied by Qhevihe Chishi Swu, Speaker Tatar Hoho and Tongmeth Wangnao, member Steering Committee.

NSCN holds talks with new govt pointsman
PTI adds: In a fresh bid to solve the vexed Naga issue, NSCN-IM today held the first round of talks with the government’s newly appointed pointsman R S Pandey during which the group submitted a list of 30 demands that includes sovereignty for Nagaland.
The meeting, held at undisclosed location, lasted for about 90 minutes during which a NSCN-IM delegation led by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah submitted their 30-point demands, sources said.
The meeting which was seen more as an “informal type”, as pointed out by a delegate at the meeting, was held to know the new interlocutor who had helped Muivah in renewing his expired passport, they said, adding another round will be held tomorrow.
Pandey, while giving a patient hearing to the Naga leaders, conveyed to them that there was no possibility of sovereignty for Nagaland and the talks could be held around granting more autonomy.
Pandey, a former Petroleum Secretary, was appointed as the new pointsman on Naga talks on February 12 to succeed former Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah who was the interlocutor for nearly a decade.
Among other issues in the charter demand, the NSCN-IM pointed out certain taxation matters and preservation of cultural heritage, the sources said.
Naga leaders meet Manmohan Singh
Leaders of a frontline Naga separatist outfit on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after several rounds of talks with a government-appointed interlocutor, a separatist leader said.
The top leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) is here for the peace talks which resumes after a gap of nearly a year.
"The leaders are in a meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence. We hope the talks will be honest and sincere," V.S. Atem, convener of the steering committee of the NSCN-IM, said.
Atem said the rebel group's general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah was leading the delegation that arrived here Saturday night from self-imposed exile in the Netherlands.
The NSCN-IM has been invited by the government for peace talks. The rebel leaders, Atem said, have been speaking to the government's new pointsman R.S. Pandey, a former petroleum secretary. They will also call on Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
"We are hopeful, very optimistic...but no compromise on our right to sovereignty. We have not given up and will never give up the demand for our independence," Atem said.
The NSCN-IM is fighting for the expansion of the mountainous Nagaland state into a "Greater Nagaland" and carve out an independent state with a promise to maintain federal relations with India.
The NSCN-IM's demand for a "Greater Nagaland" would unite over 1.2 million Nagas in northeast India. But the demand has been strongly opposed by the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The last round of peace talks between the government and the separatist group was held in March 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland and ended in a stalemate.
The NSCN-IM had entered into a ceasefire accord with the Indian government in August 1997. They have held 67 rounds of talks with the government so far.
Indian gov't willing to give autonomy to Nagaland: sources (Xinhua) NEW DELHI -- The Indian government is willing to give more autonomy to its northeastern state of Nagaland and perhaps even a separate flag, highly placed sources said here Tuesday.
"The government held a fresh round of talks with Naga leaders in the national capital and has offered more autonomy for Nagaland. It may even give a flag to the Nagas using a section of the Indian Constitution," the sources said.
However, the government has not officially confirmed this.
Earlier in the day, the Naga leaders, led by their organization National Socialist Council of Nagalad-Isak Muviah (NSCN-IM), general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who were seeking sovereignty for a separate state of Nagaland, met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram here.
Naga rebel leaders affirm unity for final settlement Sentinel
Kohima, Mar 2: The members of Joint Working Group (JWG), along with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), sought prayer support of the public on Sunday sending across a clear message of their commitment to work towards the final settlement.
The members of the JWG, led by senior leaders of Naga political groups Q Tuccu, Meren Nokpu and Kedello Zhopra Vero, also called upon the people to help correct any wrongdoing to erase all misgivings for the final settlement in Phek, 145 kms east of Kohima. “We have committed many mistakes and resorted to senseless killings in the past which needs to be corrected so that we do not revisit the past,” NSCN-IM leader Tuccu said and called for working in unison to realise common aspirations.
NSCN (K) leader Nokpu reaffirmed that the leaders have realised the need to come together overcoming all impediments standing in the path of true reconciliation among the Nagas. Naga National Council (Federal Government of Nagaland) leader Vero assured to pursue reconciliation, peace and unity on a war-footing till such time it has been achieved in totality.
Meanwhile, Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) has welcomed the Journey of Common Hope. CPO president Sovenyi urged the members of the JWG to listen and let the cries of the people guide their path. (UNI)
Bodoland itch, seven years on - Absu leads massive rally, revives demand for separate state in 2003 rerun PREETAM B. CHOUDHURY The Telegraph


Absu activists during the mass rally at Kajalgaon in Chirang district on Tuesday. A Telegraph picture
Kajalgaon (Chirang), March 2: Seven years after putting the statehood movement on hold following the signing of an accord among the Centre, state government and the now-defunct BLT, the All Bodo Students Union (Absu) today returned to the streets seeking a separate state.
Scenes from the past unfolded as Absu activists sported tonsured heads and carrying placards screaming “Divide Assam 50-50” at a rally at Kajalgaon in Chirang district, which was attended by a large number of people. Significantly, it was on this day in 1987 that the first movement for a separate state was launched by the late Upendra Nath Brahma with the same slogan.
Absu president Promode Boro announced the fresh movement amid a sea of humanity, which thronged Kajalgaon to participate in the mass rally.
The envisaged state is bigger than the area now under Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), which was created comprising the four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Baksa, in consonance with the provisions of the February 2003 Accord. Covering an area of 25,000 square km, the state would stretch from river Sankosh in the west to Sadiya in the east, Bhutan and Arunachal in the north and Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup (rural), Darrang, Lakimpur, Dibrugarh districts in the south.
Absu had suspended the separate state demand at its Banargaon convention in 2003 after the accord was signed in the hope that the newly created Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) would fulfil the aspirations of the people.
“Bodoland state is the ultimate demand of the Bodo people but the Bodos were denied on the pretext that the nation did not have a policy to create any more new states. But the fact was that the nation created three more new states — Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh in 2000 — and today Telangana has been proposed. The other states have been created one after another and the demand for Bodoland has been repeatedly denied in a deceptive manner,” Boro said.
Though the Bodos and other tribals demanded a separate state in the form of Udayachal in 1967 under the Plains Tribes Council of Assam, the movement died a premature death. The demand and agitation for the separate Bodoland state gained momentum in 1987 under the leadership of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, the then president of Absu.
The party signed the first accord in 1993 and formed the Bodoland Autonomous Council. The Bodos under Absu revived the demand for a separate state the following year which eventually led to the formation of the BTC in 2003 and scrapping of the Bodoland Autonomous Council.
According to D. Narzary of Kokrajhar, who participated in the Bodoland movement under Bodofa, the main complaint of the Bodos is that their land was taken away by non-tribals and successive state governments did nothing to stop that. Narzary, who attended the rally today, said the spaces meant for the tribals are being occupied by non-tribals. The encroachment is still going on.
Absu also submitted a memorandum to Union home minister P. Chidambaram for a separate state and other demands. It also demanded more autonomy for all autonomous councils of Assam.
KIA in combat readiness Phanida Mizzima
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Under tremendous pressure from the Burmese military junta to transform to the Border Guard Force (BGF), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is in battle readiness in the event of a military onslaught by the Burmese Army.

The KIA is also recruiting soldiers and conducting military training.

The junta's chief negotiator on the BGF issue Military Affairs Security (MAS) Chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint set a deadline for February 28 for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing, to respond to the thorny issue of conversion of its KIA. But KIO did not respond to this ultimatum.

The KIO, meanwhile is holding a crucial meeting at its party headquarters Laiza starting today. Present are leaders including 30 members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), who are to decide on how to respond to the junta's demand.

"The meeting will decide on the transformation issue. They are deliberating on how to respond to the junta's demand," a KIO Central Committee (CC) member said.

They are trying to resolve the crisis politically but at the same time are preparing for the worst, he added.

"We are on standby on the west from Hukoung to the India border, in the east up to the China border, in the north our troops are on alert up to the Tibet border and in the south, we are ready up to the border of Kachin State and Burma proper, " a KIA officer, who wished anonymity told Mizzima.

KIO leaders met the junta's delegation led by Lt. Gen. Ye Myint and Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Soe Win in Myitkyina on 29 January for the eleventh time to discuss the contentious BGF issue.

The KIO submitted a proposal to the junta saying they would like to transform their army into the Kachin Region Guard Force (KRGF) rather than the BGF along with other departments of theirs. They offered to surrender arms if the junta accepts 'equality of ethnic rights' enshrined in the historical 1947 Panlong Agreement.

The KIO formed a five-member committee with Vice-Chairman Gawri Zau Sai, General Secretary Dr. Laja, Col. Suanlut Guam Maw, Col. Laphai La and Capt. G Nau Ni to engage in direct negotiation with the junta on the BGF issue.

After signing the ceasefire agreement with the junta in 1994, the regime allowed KIO and KIA to operate in the north of Burma and control these areas.

The agreement allowed KIO to collect taxes and levies from local jade mines, gold mines and timber and logging business. The KIO built many infrastructure projects such as roads, generated electricity, besides building schools and opening clinics for the local people.

The junta has been applying tremendous pressure on all ceasefire groups to convert their armies into the BGF but the KIO, United Wa State Army (UWSA), Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Shan State Special Region No. 4 or Mongla group are still refusing to accept the proposal.



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