The Hindu : Front Page : Demand for Naga unification reiterated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 04, 2005

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Demand for Naga unification reiterated

By Vinay Kumar

— Photo: Anu Pushkarna

A Naga delegation led by the NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah (third from left), with the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil (right), in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. Talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) leadership began today with both sides asserting willingness to work for a mutually acceptable and honourable solution to the five-decade-old Naga problem.

Emerging from an hour-long meeting with the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, and top Government officials, the NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah, said that he looked forward to "an intensification of the negotiations in coming weeks and months." During the meeting, he reiterated the organisation's demand for the unification of all Naga-dominated areas in the North-East — a touchy and controversial issue that triggered violent agitations in Manipur two years ago.

Talks to continue

In a brief statement, Mr. Muivah: "The level of talks will continue, as before, at the Prime Minister level. We sought clarification from the Home Minister regarding a statement reported in the press and attributed to him, regarding the Government's stand on the issue of Naga integration. We were reassured by the Ministry that his statement was misrepresented in some press reports, and that there is no change in the position of the Government that this issue remains on the agenda of the negotiations."

Mr. Muivah told reporters: "There can be no solution without unification of areas where Nagas are living. If Nagas are living in Arunachal Pradesh, it is their land and if they are living in Assam, it is their land. Nagas are living in their own land, not anyone's land. Nagas want to live together."

Asked how the unification would come about as the neighbouring States as well as the Centre were against the redrawing of territorial boundaries, he said, "It is for the Indian Government to decide." Despite his known views on the unification of Naga-dominated areas, Mr. Muivah said there was better understanding after initial talks with Mr. Patil. Substantial issues were not raised today but "we have greater and much better understanding of each other's views."

In his opening remarks, Mr. Patil said it was "very encouraging" to see that Naga leaders had visited Nagaland and met the people there. He expressed the satisfaction that peace continued to prevail in Nagalandand added that such understanding would help in reaching an honourable solution to the problem.

At today's preparatory round of talks, the NSCN (I-M) president, Isak Chishi Swu, was not present; no reason was given for his absence. From the Government's side, three Ministers of State — S. Reghupathy (Home), Prithiviraj Chavan (Prime Minister's Office) and Oscar Fernandes (Programme Implementation) — the National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan, the Home Secretary, Dhirendra Singh, the Intelligence Bureau Director, E.S.L. Narasimhan, and the Centre's Interlocutor for the Naga peace talks, K. Padmanabhaiah, were present.

Mr. Fernandes described the meeting as "a very good beginning" and hoped that next round would be held soon. A release by the Home Ministry said that both sides had reiterated their willingness to continue discussions on all outstanding issues.

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