Declaration on Naga peace process signed

KOHIMA, May 15 ? The crucial consultative meeting between NSCN (I-M) leadership and a Naga delegation at Bangkok has adopted a four-point declaration, extending full support to the ongoing political negotiation between the Centre and the underground outfit to find a lasting settlement to vexed Naga problem, reports PTI. Type declaration signed by 73 delegates, a copy of which was available here Tuesday also endorsed the apex tribal council Naga Hoho, churches and other mass based organisations to continue the re-conciliation campaign to achieve understanding and unity among the Nagas to strengthen the current peace process. The declaration, entitled ?Strengthening peace strategy,? also appealed to all Nagas to come forward to support and participate in the peace process so that the protracted Naga political conflict can be solved. The consultative meet, held last week at the Thai capital at the invitation of NSCN (I-M) leadership, entrusted Naga churches to hold national ?prayer day? for the success of the peace process. Naga Hoho co-ordination committee had launched the reconciliation campaign in December last to heal the wounds in the deeply divided Naga family and facilitate holding of a meaningful political dialogue with the Centre. Meanwhile, M Vero, president of Naga Hoho, who also took part in the Bangkok meet, welcomed the openness with which NSCN (I-M) chairman Issac Chishi Swu and general secretary Th Muivah conducted the consultation and supported the reconciliation process and their ?pledge to consult fully? with the Naga people in the search for a negotiated settlement. Vero, who arrived here on Monday, said the Naga delegates told the NSCN (I-M) leadership that Naga Hoho was actively pursuing the commitment made on December 20 to initiate a process to acknowledge the wrongs and pains of the past that should be put right for the sake of the future. Naga Hoho?s deepest conviction was to bring all groups in the Naga struggle together to start a process of honest interaction and achieve understanding and trust from all sections, Vero said. It has therefore, called upon NSCN (I-M) to declare total cessation of hostility to NSCN (K) as a reciprocal response to the latter?s cease-fire declarations, he said. Underlying the need for creating a congenial atmosphere under which all Naga groups come closer to achieve the best possible solution, Vero, former Rajya Sabha MP, disclosed such consultations with NSCN (K) and one group of Naga National Council (NNC), the oldest underground group in the region, had already taken place, and the Hoho was now awaiting consultation with the other NNC faction.