Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
New Delhi, December 03:
A Group of Ministers will hold talks with top leaders of the NSCN-IM in Amsterdam from tomorrow to take forward the Naga peace process that has been deadlocked since the last round of negotiations in October.
The team, headed by Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, is leaving for the Netherlands tonight to hold parleys over two days with the NSCN-IM delegation led by chairman Isaac Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.
It is expected to discuss all "substantive" issues for a solution to the country's oldest insurgency problem, officials said here today.
"In the last meeting, it was agreed to explore and discuss our demand for a special federal relationship between New Delhi and Nagaland that allows us self-governance," a top NSCN-IM leader said over phone.
"The parameters for the talks will be confined to this key issue of a special arrangement," he said.
Reports of major clashes between cadres of NSCN-IM and its rival NSCN-Khaplang, which have resulted in the death of several people in the recent past, may figure in the talks.
The NSCN-IM is likely to demand government action to "control" cadres of the NSCN-K, which also has a ceasefire pact with the Centre, since such clashes may increase tension in Nagaland, sources said.
The meeting will also review progress made since the NSCN-IM submitted a 20-point charter of demands to the Centre.
In this charter, the NSCN-IM had sought the unification of all Naga-inhabited areas of the northeast, separate representation at the UN and greater rights over natural resources, finance, defence and policing.