Politics / Nagaland

New Delhi, Jan. 23: The Naga talks today hit a rough patch on the issue of unification of contiguous Naga areas, a key demand of the NSCN (I-M), but diplomacy ensured that the crisis blew over.

With Th. Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu, the two Naga leaders, readying to leave at one point, the talks hung tantalisingly on the edge. But Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, called in at short notice, doused the embers of a damaging discord.

In faraway Kohima, the NSCN(I-M), however, struck an optimistic note, with the ?Government of People?s Republic of Nagaland?s home minister?, V. Sumi, allaying fears...

New Delhi, January 23: K Padmanabhaiah, Representative of Government of India and Th. Muivah, General Secretary, NSCN have issued the following Joint Communiqu?, here today according to a press hand out from the Ministry of Home Affairs: "The representatives of the Government of India and the NSCN are pleased with the progress that has been made in the course of the visit of the NSCN leaders to New Delhi, during which they met the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister, and in the formal talks held on 21-23 January. A wide range of substantive issues put...

KOHIMA, Jan 23 ? The former higher and technical Education Minister, Prof T Chuba, who on Monday resigned from the SC Jamir Cabinet as well as from the Congress, on Tuesday joined the Nagaland People?s Front, and decided to contest the coming elections from Dimapur-I LAC instead of his home constituency in Mokokchung district, NPF sources told PTI.

Expressing strong reservation against the ?policies and programmes of the Jamir Government,? Prof Chuba had tendered his resignation to become the third Cabinet Minister to snap ties with the ruling Congress. The NPF?s ranks were further bolstered...

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 ? The Delhi round of talks between the Union Government and the NSCN(I-M) leadership did not end on a sweet note for either sides, with an adamant Naga leadership sticking on with their demand for unification of all Naga inhabited areas and refusing to lay down arms. The hiccups, notwithstanding, both sides agreed to continue with the negotiations and a joint statement expressed satisfaction with the progress of the talks. The Naga leadership, meanwhile, are leaving for Amsterdam early next morning with mixed reactions, after concluding their over 10 days of stay.

The third...

Dimapur/ Kohima, Jan 22: If the Centre were to make peace with Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, it would have dealt a body blow to insurgency in the region. Because the NSCN (I-M) is today the pivotal force behind insurgent groups operating in Assam, Manipur, Tripura and even those creeping into Meghalaya.

Officials engaged in counter-insurgency operations have reason to believe that the NSCN (I-M) has ‘‘contributed in good measure’’ to the activities of outfits in states across the N-E, training and arming them and drawing from an extortion pool to fill its coffers.

‘‘Other ethnic...

Kohima, Jan. 22: Despite the recent concert of unity, planks in Nagaland?s Opposition alliance are split wide open. Disputes over sharing of seats are threatening to frustrate the Opposition?s aim to pull the rug from beneath a firmly-placed Congress chief minister S.C. Jamir.

The much-touted combined rally slated for today and supposed to be flagged off by defence minister George Fernandes, too, stands postponed, sources said.

The main partners of the Opposition Nagaland Democratic Alliance ? the BJP and the Nagaland People?s Front ? are still at loggerheads on the number of seats they would...

New Delhi, Jan. 22: The NSCN (I-M) today appeared peeved at Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh?s claim that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had assured him of not altering the state?s boundary, seeking a clarification from New Delhi on the issue.

However, the talks, which were extended by a day, remained unaffected.

The fact that the negotiations did not fall through was a breather for both sides, indicating that they were committed to a negotiated settlement. The NSCN (I-M) leaders, however, were not at all charitable to Ibobi Singh?s claim on the Prime Minister?s assurance.

Real...

KOHIMA, Jan 22 ?Naga National Council (NNC), which authored the Naga political movement in the mid 1940s, Tuesday said no permanent soultion to the problem could be found from the peace talks between the Centre and NSCN(I-M) and was itself ready to hold dialogues if asked by New Delhi as it wanted a peaceful settlement of the imbroglio, reports PTI. ?The Nagas had given their mandate only to NNC through the 1951 plebiscite... We are ready for peace talks but the offer must come from the government of India. If such offer is made with all sincerity, we are ready for dialogue,? Viyalie...

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 ? The Naga peace talks between the Union Government and NSCN (I-M) leaders remained inconclusive. The talks that were scheduled to conclude today would continue tomorrow. With the growing unrest in Manipur over the issue of integration of all Naga inhabited areas looming large, there were indications that the issue has rocked the boat forcing the two sides to extend the negotiations to third day. A joint statement is expected to be made after the conclusion of the first Delhi round.

Even as the all party delegation from Manipur led by Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh winded up...

Kohima, Jan. 21: Making its first utterances on the high-profile Centre-NSCN (I-M) talks, the ?federal government of Nagaland? ? which represents the Naga National Council ? today said it was willing to start talks with the Centre if the latter showed ?sincerity?.

Much in the same breath, it said violence in Nagaland would continue if ?India continued to talk to people who are out of the family?.

The family referred to was legendary Naga insurgent leader A.Z. Phizo?s lineage.

Focusing his address on the plebiscite of 1951 and the NNC?s stand that Nagaland ?is in an independent position...