KOHIMA, Nov 5 ? The NSCN-IM yesterday assured the people that the outfit would not enter into any agreement with the Centre without their views and opinions and sought support of all sections of Nagas to end the protracted conflict.
The NSCN-IM collective leadership also extended ?a hand of friendship? to all Nagas, irrespective of their past and standing (on Naga issue) and appealed to all of them to join in working together for ?a peaceful and honourable solution? to the problem.
In a message to the Naga people, the collective leadership assured them that NSCN-IM was committed ?to the fact that no settlement would be entered into without consulting and taking the opinions of the Nagas?.
During the last round of talks between representatives of the Centre and NSCN-IM at Bangkok, outfit?s chairman Issac Chish Swu and general secretary Th. Muivah had agreed to come over to Delhi to further the peace talks. They are also expected to visit Nagaland and hold discussions with a cross section of people on the Naga issue.
The message assumed significance prior to the visit of the outfit's leaders in view of assertion from the state government, political parties and NGOs that without the consent all sections of the Nagas, no lasting settlement to the problem was possible.
?We will negotiate on the basis and spirit of our natural rights and our unique history so that an honourable solution can come out for mutual understanding, not from imposition, suppression or insult,? the NSCN-IM collective leadership said.
Asserting that ?it was unthinkable for the Nagas to be sovereign without integration of Naga area,? they however said that ?we will not take away anything that belongs to others.?
?Nagas are not going to disturb the rights of our neighbours who want to determine their own destiny,? they said adding that the aspiration of the Nagas to live together has been a natural desire.
The NSCN-IM is said to have submitted a set of proposals to the Centre including demand for integration of greater Naga inhabited areas of the region.
Stating that the Centre recognised the ?unique history and situation? of the Nagas, the collective leadership assured the people that NSCN-IM would uphold ?the sovereign rights? of the Nagas and will work together with them to determine their future.
?We are prepared to to have an honourable and respectful way of relating with the government, provided they too realise the natural necessity of inter-dependence,? they said.
The settlement that comes out of the political negotiations will define the nature of relationship between the two entities, Nagalim and the Centre, they said.
Many individuals and organisations here welcomed the proposed visit of NSCN-IM top leaders to New Delhi and Nagaland, but asserted that all sections of Nagas should be taken into confidence before the final settlement of the vexed issue.
Welcoming the proposed visit, Naga Hoho, the apex tribal council, said it along with other civil society groups was preparing a draft to be placed before the collective leadership on the basis of their campaign for unity, re-conciliation and integration of the Nagas.
Appreciating the gesture of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in inviting NSCN-IM leaders to the country, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress in a resolution said that all sections of Nagas must be involved in the ongoing peace process.
The Congress leaders are also ready to meet Swu and Muivah if they are invited for discussions, CLP leader Imkong told newsmen recently.
But the rival groups, NSCN-K and Naga National Council (NNC), pioneer of Naga political struggle, are not enthused by the proposed visit, asserting that NSCN-IM does not represent all sections of Nagas and it alone cannot resolve the Naga issue.