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03/11/2010: "NSCN leader Muivah's Delhi visit brings hope of peace among Nagas OneIndia"

NSCN leader Muivah's Delhi visit brings hope of peace among Nagas OneIndia

New Delhi / Kohima/ Imphal, Mar 7 (ANI): National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) leaders Isak and Muivah's recent New Delhi visit to hold peace talks with the Union Government has set the stage for ushering in a new era of peace in Nagaland.
After a gap of three years, NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah along with other leaders arrived in New Delhi on the invitation of Centre for holding peace talks and finding a solution to the six -decade-old Naga problems.

On February 27, Muivah was given a welcome on his arrival to New Delhi by various Naga students' organisations.

On March 2, NSCN delegation held a close door talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

The Naga leaders also held series of meetings with newly appointed interlocutor R.S Pandey during their stay in New Delhi.

Leaders of both sides seemed optimistic after the talks.

Speaking to media after the meeting Chidambaram expressed confidence that these talks would lead to a honourable settlement of Naga problem.

"It is my earnest desire that the talks will lead to an honourable negotiated settlement," he said.

On the other hand Muivah also spoke on the same tone.

"Today I feel very proud to say that Prime Minister of India invited us to come to India for to resume their political talks," Muivah said.

The visiting NSCN (IM) delegation has put forward 30 demands, which includes sovereignty for Nagaland, and unification of all Naga-dominated areas of neighbouring states.

However Union Home Secretary G K Pillai in a joint address to the media has already said that integration of Naga states and talks on sovereignty are not possible.

Meanwhile Muivaah's participation in the talks have created hopes of peace. he local expressed hope that the talks would bring peace to Nagaland.

"I am really glad to Indian leaders for welcoming the Naga leaders to resume the talks at highest levels," said Shem, a local.

Not just in Nagaland, but Nagas residing in Manipur also showed their support for the Indo - Naga peace talks.

People of four districts Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong under the aegis of United Naga Council flagged off rallies for a lasting solution to the problem.

"We are conducting the public rally for supporting the Indo Naga peace talks," said Lolia, president, Senapati District Women Association.

United Naga Council president Samson Remei said: "Public Peace Rally is to express the desire of Naga people to solve this issue of Indo - Naga political problem by hammering out honourable solution to the vex Naga problem."

Many rounds of talks between the centre and NSCN (IM) leaders have already been held. The last time the leaders from both sides met were in Zurich a year ago. (ANI)

No bargain on political, territorial rights of Nagas: NSCN (IM) SindhToday
Kohima/Itanagar, March 7 (IANS) The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) Sunday said it would not “compromise the political and territorial rights of the Nagas” and welcomed the central government’s “bold step” to resume dialogue.
“The political and territorial rights of the Nagas would not be compromised under any circumstances. We appreciate the union government for (promising to meet) future challenges through a serious political dialogue and admitting past mistakes,” NSCN-IM steering committee convenor V.S. Atem said in a statement.
“NSCN-IM welcomed the bold step taken by the centre to resume dialogue with Nagas and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for extending invitation to its leaders,” he said.
A five-member delegation of the Isak-Muivah faction of NSCN-IM led by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah met Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram last week.
The statement said the NSCN-IM upholds the inalienable sovereign rights of the Naga people and would negotiate in the spirit of mutual respect.
The NSCN-IM, one of the oldest and most powerful of about 30 rebel groups in India’s northeast, earlier fought for an independent Naga homeland.
It has scaled down the demand to a Greater Nagaland, proposed to be formed by merging Naga populated areas of the adjoining states.
Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have rejected the demand. The NSCN-IM entered into a ceasefire with New Delhi in August 1997.
The last round of inconclusive peace talks between the government and the Naga outfit was held in March 2009 in Zurich.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Tako Dabi reiterated that his government would not spare “even an inch of land” for Greater Nagalim, and would oppose any such move “tooth and nail”.
“We expect a permanent solution on the Naga issue through the peace parleys between centre and NSCN-IM so that the entire northeast region could get a huge relief from the decades-old stalemate,” Tako Dabi told reporters in Itanagar Saturday.
“Talks with NSCN-IM should progress without touching Arunachal Pradesh and we would not part with even an inch of our territory at any cost,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, thousands of Naga and non-Naga people have organised mass rallies in recent days in neighbouring Manipur and Nagaland demanding an early solution to the Naga dispute.
The rallies, held separately in the two states, were organised by the United Naga Council, a socio-cultural Naga body, and other organisations.
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Vexed Naga Issue Towards settlement By B G Verghese Deccan Herals
Both the Naga and the larger Indian leadership need to abandon wornout notions to embrace emerging opportunities.
The talks being conducted by the government with the Nagas through the NSCN (IM) appears to have entered the final lap. Both sides by now well understand the other. After meetings with the prime minister and home minister, Muivah is currently in dialogue with the new interlocutor, R S Pandey, a just retired IAS officer drawn from the Nagaland cadre. He succeeded K Padmanabhiah who over several rounds of talks with Muivah and Iasac Swu, patiently constructed the framework within which a settlement is now sought.

The government’s acceptance of the ‘unique’ history of the Nagas laid the foundations of trust and further progress. The NSCN (IM) started with two primary demands, sovereignty and Nagalim, or the unification of all Naga-inhabited areas within India (and ‘eastern Nagaland’ in Myanmar). Over time, the government has more or less been able to persuade the NSCN (IM) that the states within India’s structure of cooperative federalism are co-sovereigns within a commonwealth. Going beyond that, however, it has conceded that the Nagas’ unique identity merits unique recognition through additional devolution within the framework of the Constitution.

The NSCN (IM) was asked to consider what part of the Indian Constitution the Nagas were freely willing to accept and what additional heads, safeguards and features they might wish to inscribe within a special ‘Naga constitution’ that could perhaps be incorporated as a separate chapter within the Indian Constitution. Critics might scream, but a moment’s reflection will convince them that there are many mini-constitutions or special dispensations within the Indian Constitution. These are spelt out in Articles 370, 371, and 371-A (pertaining to Nagaland) to 371-I and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, and extend to special affirmative action covenants pertaining to the scheduled castes and tribes, OBCs, and religious and linguistic minorities. All these subtle variations are so much part of our constitutional and social landscape and have been so completely internalised that we often fail to note their existence.

Some of this might be done by transferring to the State List certain items that are now in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule through a constitutional amendment. This should not be problematic as some of this has already been done to a limited extent in the existing Article 371-A. Still wider devolution is possible through Article 258 under which the Centre is empowered to ‘entrust’ to a state “any matter to which the executive power of the Union extends.” None of this will affect the unity and integrity of the country because of the accommodative genius of the Indian Constitution. Nor is there any cause to fear a domino effect, whatever others may claim, as the Naga case is sui generis.

Imagined boundaries

The other issue of Nagalim too is not intractable. The imagined boundaries of Nagalim, as sometimes drawn, have little historical basis as the Naga tribes, like their cousins in much of the Northeast, have been and perhaps still are migratory.

Dimapur, for instance, the most prized territorial plum, was the capital of the Dimasa kingdom. It is now a predominantly Naga city and so it must remain, despite Dimasa claims, as history cannot be rolled back.

The solution lies not in territorial reorganisation, which will be resented and resisted, but in the coming together of these other Naga populated areas in a non-territorial entity. This would permit a coming together of all Nagas for purposes of economic, social and cultural development without derogation of current administrative jurisdictions.

An example of this is to be found in the existing apex councils first created by Hiteshwar Saikia in Assam to accommodate the common interests of small scattered tribes like the Tiwas, Rabhas and Mishings who live in non-contiguous villages spread over a wider area. The apex councils elect an executive body to administer a devolved budget and plan through their own key personnel in case of ‘transferred subjects.’

In a non-territorial ‘Naga peoplehood,’ however, distinctively Naga areas in Assam, Arunacal and Manipur could be empowered to administer common programmes of economic and social development. This could be done by means of any of several administrative devices overseen by the parent state on the one hand that enable the administered units across state boundaries to sing from the same page.

Imaginative and creative solutions are available. Some already exist; others can be enabled by constitutional amendment. The K-group has denounced the IM-group for forsaking ‘sovereignty.’ These are bargaining counters. Yet, it is absolutely necessary to get on board all shades of Naga opinion, IM, K and the two factions of the Naga National Council that Phizo founded, to endorse an overall settlement.

That Muivah is a Thangkul Naga from Manipur and Khaplang a Hemi Naga from Burma does not matter. Given a just and true settlement, each can find a place of honour in the new scheme of things. Nobody need feel left out.

It is necessary to travel in order to arrive. Both the Naga and the larger Indian leadership and societies need to abandon wornout notions to embrace emerging opportunities. An end to Naga conflict will be a triumph and a balm and will signal that insurgency anywhere is not the path to peace and progress.

Reconciliation breaking down walls of hate Akangchila Longchar

Senior Church leader and General Secretary of the Council of Naga Baptist Churches, Rev. VK Nuh leads the congregation in prayer as he seeks divine strength and courage for the Joint Working Group (GPRN/NSCN, NNC/FGN, NSCN/GPRN) to march decisively towards Naga Reconciliation, today during the Sunday morning service at Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo. Members of all the three political groups held each others hands and got down on their knees while the congregation rose on their feet to pray for them.

Dimapur | March 7 : A usually somber Sunday service, at the Dimapur Ao Baptist Church Dimapur was filled with waves of anticipation and frank curiosity as the Forum for Naga Reconciliation in another fruitful step to its journey of common hope, brought the once warring political groups to the platform of the biggest church in Nagaland to solidify the historic signing of the “Covenant of Reconciliation” by NSCN/GPRN Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, GPRN/NSCN Chairman S S Khaplang and FGN President, Brig S Singnya. Also, in attendance to show support were members of the Dimapur Naga Women Hoho.
“We, Nagas have often hovered too much on the past, and out of that we constructed conditions” FNR Convenor Rev. Dr. Wati Aier stated in his key note address at the combined devotional service at DABA. He stated that experts of political transformations of previously troubled countries have said that the secret to togetherness is acceptance and this secret Nagas have not been able to understand yet.
The FNR Convenor exhorted the gathering through the Bible parable of The Prodigal Son stating that there is a paradoxical meaning which can be related to the political situation of the Nagas groups. Co-relating the two he said that in a new different way the political groups and Nagas in general are like the older brother in the parable. “We pass judgements too quickly on to others, in doing that we are judging and pointing fingers at our own brothers and sisters and making a demon to different tribes and groups” he said. “We are all part of the belonging, we belong to one, a common belonging” he expressed.
He expressed delight that Nagas now are all journeying towards hope. “We sense that we belong to a family now” he stated. He also felt that Nagas should encourage one another.
Rev. Dr. Wati Aier also revealed to the gathering that earlier the members of the Naga political groups were even afraid to come down from their respective camps, scared of being sought down by their rivals, but today they sit down on one table and eat while even swapping mobile numbers. “It’s like a dream and I know its Gods miracle” he said. He also felt that it’s a personal belief of his that Nagas will not turn back from here but only move forward. A lot of people in the initial stages wondered how far the forum will go. The leaders of the political groups did not want to be in the same flight in the beginning, or stay in the same hotel. We had to put them in separate floors, he revealed. “To spend an hour together” was not easy he said.
He further stated “Prior to any conditions, building a relationship is more important. Nevertheless repentance and confessions have a place; in our place but acceptance is a priority. Because you are willing to readjust and accept, the broken relationship is mended.” He also said that the price of exclusion is rivers of tears and blood. “The game, if there is even one, of exclusion, is only losses on all sides.” He stressed. Also addressing to the gathering at the Ao Baptist Church Dimapur, the FNR Convenor said that the Forum for Naga Reconciliation is not proud for its success because he stated “We are what we are only through your prayers”.
Sharing the dais, the three members representing GRPN/NSCN, NNC/FGN and NSCN/GPRN also addressed the mammoth gathering. Meren Nokpu, Kilonser stated that all believers have shed tears and prayers for this peace process, and he hoped that seeing them sit together is the result. He also thanked the Ao Nagas for giving the time and the platform to all political groups to come together in unity and peace.”
Zhopra Vero the Vice President of NNC/FGN said that the leaders were standing for support at the biggest church in Nagaland DABA. He also expressed that instead of Christian love, we have been hating each other but today FNR has come to show us the truth that we should love each other.
Q. Tuccu, the senior member of the Steering Committee of the NSCN/GPRN in his speech stated that ‘under Phizos leadership every Naga was united. I don’t know if it was because of the leaders and if they did not know God but today the Nagas are spilt into fragments.’ Stating that a prayer can move or break anything he said that the previous leaders were very strong in their prayer and hence maybe we are blessed today, he expressed. Injecting the solemn programme with a dose of humor, he remarked to the people “before everyone was praying for different groups, but now everyone will be praying for only One Naga group” which had the gathering roaring with laughter and also receiving an applause.
The devotional service ended with a mass prayer which was led by Rev. VK Nuh, the oldest member of FNR. All members of the three political groups were asked to hold each others hands and to form a circle. As they knelt down to pray, the congregation got up on their feet and prayed for reconciliation and healing in the land. Special numbers were presented by DABA Lingrijan Fellowship Choir and students of Oriental Theological College during the course of the programme.