Naga Peace Talks Post NSCN-IM Statement: Centre Still Open for Dialogue, Say Sources

NSCN-IM has for long been insisting on the demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas

The Centre has taken note of the latest statement issued by the NSCN-IM but is unlikely to close its doors to continued negotiations with the group to try and resolve the protracted Naga issue.

Sources said the NSCN-IM has for long been insisting on the demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas and therefore the emphasis on these two demands in the November 7 statement by the group’s general secretary ThMuivah is nothing new.

The only major new emphasis in Muivah’ s statement is the proposal or demand for allowing a third party intervention to drive home the need, as the NSCN IM calls it, to honour the 2015 Framework Agreement in letter and spirit.

We don’t know what the next step of the government of India could be, but there seems to be other developments on the ground. Some groups who are not part of the NNPG are now said to be trying to expand the non- NSCN-IM grouping by joining it. There are two prominent NSCN groups who are not so far part of the NNPG. They are the groups led by KhangoKonyak and Niki Sumi. Whether these two groups too joins the 7 member NNPG is left to be seen.

On the whole, the latest NSCN-IM statement that bears Mr Muivah’ s signature has led to the question whether the 27 year old ceasefire could be called off by the NSCN IM which has threatened to resume it’s armed struggle. But sources feel things may not come to this so soon as New Delhi is still open to continuing the dialogue.

Also Read: NSCN-IM’s Open Threat to Centre, Says Will Resort To “Violent Armed Resistance Against India”

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