NEW DELHI, Jan 17 ? Buoyed by the arrival of the NSCN(IM) leaders in India to continue the peace negotiations, other insurgent outfits in the North-east have shown interest in talks with the Government of India, Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga disclosed this here today. The Chief Minister who played a crucial role in having the NSCN (IM) leaders visit Delhi at the request of the Centre has started the process of opening dialogue with the underground outfits in the region. The Chief Minister arrived here on Wednesday evening with a message for the Prime Minister that a few insurgent outfits in Tripura and Manipur were willing to talk to the Centre.
Zoramthanga has so far had no success in opening talks with the outlawed ULFA. He had recently told this newspaper that none from the outfit had approached him for mediation. His proposed trip to Bangladesh supposedly to open a channel of communication with ULFA and NDFB leaders was shot down by the Union Government, apparently fearing a fresh diplomatic row with that country. The Chief Minister revealed that following a request from the Central Government and also the Chief Minister of Tripura to him to have direct talks with NLFT he has sent messages to the NLFT. But they are yet to respond, he said adding that he has received positive signals from a few non-Meitie underground outfits as well.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, had a meeting with the NSCN(IM) leaders here this morning. ?The NSCN(IM) leaders told me they were satisfied with the Government of India?s peace initiative assuring that they would continue with the peace talks to find a solution to the Naga problem?, he claimed. The Chief Minister, however, declined to go into the substantive issues concerning the political talks asserting that his role was limited to the preparatory stage. The political issues did not figure in the preparatory period. It is for the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India to discuss.
Replying to a question, the Chief Minister disclosed that the NSCN (IM) leaders have told him that every issue from the biggest to the smallest will have to be discussed. Although he declined to make any comment on the reported move to appoint DONER Minister. Arun Shourie as the Government?s interlocutor, the Chief Minister said that it was time for the Centre to appoint one. It is time as the NSCN(IM) leaders are already in India to start dialogue on the real political issues.
Recalling the negotiation process between the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Centre he said that on the preparatory stage procedural matters were done away with the Government appointing a Cabinet Minister as interlocutor to discuss the political issues. The MNF on its part had consultations with NGOs, church leaders, constitutional, legal, financial and administrative experts after which political demands were chalked out. On the demand to involve the various Naga underground outfits in the peace talks, to the Minister said if amicable understanding could be had among the various Naga underground outfits that could be best. He conceded that there was a difference in peace talks with MNF and NSCN(IM) in that there were various factions and tribes among the Nagas. Best would be if all sections of Naga underground organisations and parties get together for solution of the Naga problem, he added.
Meanwhile, the NSCN(IM) leaders today called on National Security Adviser to Prime Minister, Brajesh Mishra at his South Block office. According to sources, the NSCN(IM) have been lately holding extensive consultations with representatives of various Naga organisations, church leaders, NGOs and Naga Mothers Association and Naga elders. The aim of these lengthy sessions may be to gauge the mood of the Naga people before they start the formal political dialogue.