Politics / Nagaland

New Delhi, Jan. 18: In a rare gesture of solidarity, parliamentarians today cut across party lines to come out in full support of the ongoing peace dialogue between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) and the Centre.

?It?s simply wonderful. We have been received warmly. All (MPs) have risen above party interest. It is a historic occasion. We hope that this spirit is seen in Parliament as well when support will be required for resolving the problem. The Nagas wish to live peacefully with you all. We feel that our visit to Delhi has been successful,? a moved Isak Chisi Swu, chairman...

KOHIMA, Jan 18 ? After Jammu and Kashmir, voters slips in addition to photo identity cards (PIC) will be used for the first time in the North-east when Nagaland goes to Assembly elections on February 26, reports PTI.

Disclosing this here Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) JM Lyngdoh on Friday night told reporters that voters slips would be provided to the head of each family in Nagaland and not in Meghalaya and Tripura which also go to polls on the same day. The full Election Commission team led by Lyngdoh, reviewed the election preparations and security arrangements during meetings with the...

DIBRUGARH, Jan 18 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today warned that the Assam government would not accede an inch of States territory to the greater Nagaland demand of the NSCN (I-M). ?Inclusion of any territorial part of Assam in the greater Nagaland as proposed by the NSCN (I-M) will be opposed by our government,? Gogoi thundered. Gogoi was speaking to local mediapersons here today. Deliberating on a wide range of subjects, Gogoi welcomed idea of issuing citizens? identity cards to keep a tab on illegal influx.

On the issue of sending back illegal Bangladeshis from the country, he shot back:...

Imphal, January 17: Unlike the ceasefire extension imbroglio episodes of June 2001 and other past social unrests with regard to the question of the state's territorial integrity, the Naga hoi-polloi dwelling in Imphal view the present renew Manipur territorial integrity slogans in different ways, at least this time. In a random survey conducted by Newmai News Network in the last two days indicates that Nagas in the valley are not going to the repeat the 2001 anti-ceasefire agitation days when they had fled to the hill districts. Miss Awon of Dewlahland, a school teacher by profession told this...

GUWAHATI, Jan 17 ? Vice-chairman of the banned ULFA, Pradip Gogoi today said the ongoing talks between the NSCN(I-M) and the Centre at New Delhi was a most welcome development which, if succeeds at finding an amicable settlement to the decades old Naga problem, would definitely encourage other militant groups of the North-east to come to the negotiating table with the Government. The senior ULFA leader who was produced at the TADA Court here today in connection with the case No. 1/98 and 43/2001 against him, however maintained that any lasting and peaceful solution of the Naga issue must have...

Guwahati, Jan. 16: The NSCN (I-M) today dismissed the Centre?s assertion that future rounds of peace talks with the outfit would be held only in the country.

Deputy kilo kilonser (?home minister?) of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) V. Horam told The Telegraph via telephone from Dimapur that they were not bound to hold future talks in India.

?As far as we are concerned, the future talks could be held in Delhi or in any European or Asian country,? Horam said.

Union minister of state for home I.D. Swami, in a telephone interview with The Telegraph recently, had said the...

Imphal, January 16: With the Nagaland Assembly election round the corner, political parties of the State have exploited the ongoing NSCN(IM)-GOI peace talk to the maximum as a poll plank, through interpreting the issue from different angles. While Chief Minister SC Jamir seems to pursue the flip flop stand about the ongoing parleys between the NSCN-IM leaders and Central Leaders in New Delhi, the Opposition Front, NPF headed by former CM Hokishe Sema has gone with the full backing to the ongoing peace talk considering that the issue could be the best bet and bait for the forthcoming election...

Imphal, January 16: The torch rally called by the United Committee Manipur took an ugly turn when thousands of people who came out braving the January chill turned violent at different points of the capital city today. However the rally passed off peacefully without any major hitches at other places. Rallies were taken out peacefully at Pallel, Moirang, Kumbi, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur. An enraged mob turned their wrath towards some UCM volunteers and tried to burn the vehicle in which the volunteers were travelling at Uripok today. Timely action by the police saved the vehicle. Cops on...

DIMAPUR, January 16 ? Preparations for February 26, when Nagaland goes to polls alongwith two other northeastern states?Tripura and Meghalaya besides Himachal Pradesh, are on at full pace with the Election Commission hell-bent on spreading massive awareness of Electronic Voting Machines. 130 people chosen from all the 8 districts of the state will be imparted training on the use of the EVM initially. Officials of the Election Commission, New Delhi and ECIL, Hyderabad, the manufacturers of EVM will conduct the two-day training at the Zonal Council Hall, Kohima. The 130 trainees will in turn...

NEW DELHI, Jan 16 ? The attempt to garner support for peaceful resolution of the Naga problem has gathered momentum with the Opposition parties calling upon the Prime Minister to convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue. Representatives of various Opposition parties barring the Congress today met the NSCN (I-M) leaders at former Prime Minister, V P Singh?s house for an interaction. The leaders gave a patient hearing to the chairman and general secretary of the NSCN (I-M), Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah, who gave an account of the Naga problem and their movent.

The core issues of...