Home coming for Muivah on May 8 after nearly 40 years
Source: The Sangai Express / A Chiphang

Imphal, April 29 2010: After more than forty years of spending his life in the jungles waging a bush war against India for Naga independence and taking refuge on foreign soil such as Thailand and now Amsterdam, NSCN (IM) general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah is set to visit his birth place, Somdal in Ukhrul district on May 8 .

A public reception is also being prepared for the Naga leader at Tangkhul Naga Long ground at Ukhrul district headquarters on May 8 .

Stages and other paraphernalia for the much anticipated visit of Muivah are being readied at the Tangkhul Naga Long.

Th Muivah with his colleagues

Muivah will first visit his birth place, Somdal, after which he will arrive at Ukhrul district headquarters where a public meeting will be held on May 8 .

Talking to The Sangai Express, official sources said that Muivah, on his return from Delhi after meeting the Central leaders, is likely to take part in a fasting prayer to be observed some-where in Ukhrul district, before he interacts with the public.

Muivah left his birth place from the early 1960s and has not been home since then.

The NSCN (IM) leader, who celebrated his 75th birthday at Camp Hebron last month will also visit the other hill districts, including Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong.

During his stay here, he is expected to have a series of consultative meetings with Naga organisations.

The consultative meetings will largely focus on taking forward the ongoing peace parleys between the outfit and the Government of India to its logical conclusion.

While the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India have come to an understanding on many critical issues such as joint military, foreign affairs and currency etc, the demand of integrating all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit has proved to be the hardest nut to crack.

Neighbouring States like Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been staunchly opposing the proposal to integrate all Naga inhabited areas, as this would infringe on their territories.

After the ceasefire pact was signed on August 1, 1997, over 60 rounds of talks have been held to resolve the Naga political issue, but till date no solution has been worked out.

The Guwahati edition of The Telegraph in its April 28 edition had reported that Muivah was due to visit Manipur on May 3, but the visit has been rescheduled now.

He was to fly in from Delhi to Dimapur on May 1, The Telegraph had reported.

The Government of Nagaland has also reportedly confirmed the proposed visit of Muivah to Manipur.

However, when The Sangai Express contacted the Home Department of Manipur on the visit of the NSCN (IM) leader, they said that no official intimation has been received as yet.

As such the State Government has not taken up any measures for the proposed visit of the NSCN (IM) leader.

There are many cases pending against Muivah in Manipur, said an official source, adding that the cease fire pact is limited only within the State of Nagaland.