Naga talks inching towards soln

September 17, 2020 70 Views No Comment

NEW DELHI, SEP 16 (AGENCIES): Expectations of a settlement to the decades-old Naga political issue by September this year has gained leverage after NSCN(I-M) negotiators led by its chief negotiator Th.Muivah has been holding parleys with government of India officials since the past weeks.

Further, the arrival of a 15-member NSCN(I-M) delegation led by its president Q.Tuccu and vice president Tongmeth Wangnao to Delhi has given further rise to speculations of early solution.

PTI reports that Muivah along with other leaders of the group have been holding negotiations with officials of the Intelligence Bureau continued to break the deadlock before the deadline to find a lasting solution to the vexed Naga insurgency.

The negotiations are being held almost on a daily basis for the last few days between the NSCN (I-M) leadership and two senior officers of the IB here.

Nagaland Governor and interlocutor for the talks, R N Ravi, has not participated in the meetings due to opposition by the NSCN (I-M), which accused him of trying to divide the Naga people on the Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015, an official privy to the development said.

The peace talks are going on to resolve contentious issues like the NSCN (I-M)’s demand for a separate flag and a separate constitution, but no decision has been taken so far, the official said.

Once the issues are resolved, the NSCN (I-M) is likely to hold discussions with the political leadership of the central government, another official said.

The NSCN(I-M) has got stuck with its insistence that the Framework Agreement signed on August 3,2015 principally accepts that Naga flag and Naga constitution were part of the deal.

The central government is unlikely to accept the NSCN (I-M)’s demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas.

The ruling BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on many occasions made it clear that they believe in one flag and one Constitution for whole India. The framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015, by NSCN(I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the government’s interlocutor Ravi in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough made in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was signed.

Adds NPN: Amidst intense speculations that the Naga political issue is to be resolved through a broad-based agreement with all Naga political groups within September, as per the advice of prime minister Narendra Modi, significant developments have taken in Nagaland place within the past few weeks.

What has also fueled speculations was the report that Nyemlang Konyak, heading one faction of NSCN was likely to join NSCN(R) which is part of NNPGs,so as to be part of the agreement. The Working Committee(WC) of the seven Naga National Political Group(NNPG) have expressed willingness to disclose contents of their talks with the government of India to the Naga public WC has also declared that it was ready to ink the draft agreement with the government of India. According to sources WC/NNPG delegation led by its convenor N. Kitovi Zhimomi (ato kilonser GPRN/NSCN) is likely to leave for Delhi this week to finalise the details of the agreement.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/naga-talks-inching-towards-soln/221927.html