Talks on track, says NSCN-IM
Source: The Sangai Express / (Courtesy: The Telegraph)

Kohima, August 06 2011: The NSCN (I-M) said talks with the Centre was on the right track and solutions would be hammered out on the spirit of "shared sovereignty" .

A statement issued today by the information and publicity sector of the NSCN (IM) said the solution would also be on the "unique-identity with an inter-dependent relationship", adding that "the Nagas have missed the finest opportunities for a number of times in the past" .

With regard to the 33-point proposal submitted to the Centre for the Naga solution, the outfit said the nature of the Indo-Naga political talks was such that except for the negotiating teams of the NSCN (IM) and the Centre, nobody knew the exact contents of the proposals and counter-proposals.

The outfit said the proposal papers that were supposedly leaked had twisted and invented points to serve vested interests.

The working papers on the political solution, supposed to be drafted by the NSCN (IM), was made available to The Telegraph from sources.

According to the paper, notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, no act of Parliament would apply in respect to extension of Article 371 (A) to all Naga inhabited areas in the country.

This article gave special privileges to Nagaland when the statehood agreement was signed ill 1960 between the Centre and the Naga People's Convention.

According to this article, no act can infringe upon the customary and traditional practices of Naga people and the land and its resources belong to the people.

Regarding foreign affairs, the working paper mentioned that there would be diplomats and consulates for Nagalim and all matters that brought the state into correspondence with any foreign nation in respect of trade and commerce.

Treaties and agreements with foreign nations, export-import relations, customs duties, participation in conferences of trade and implementing decisions, participation in UNO and matters of human resource development, socio-economic growth, environment and trade relations and foreign loans and aids would all be under their purview.

Regarding human resources, the working paper mentioned reservation of 200 seats for medical degrees before the commissioning of the medical college and a 100 per cent increase in reservation in medical, engineering and bio-technology colleges and vocational institutions.

On economic packages, the paper included the coal-based 250MW thermal power project, Dikhu hydro project:, the 120MW Tizu-Zunki basin project, along with the upgrade of National Highways 27,150, 155 and 60, connecting Myanmar, to four-laning, circular roads connecting all the Naga district headquarters and railways, an international airport at Dimapur, road maintenance funds to be doubled in the hill areas in view of young soil and rainfall and air transport taxes and other charges subsidised by 50 per cent.

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