DIMAPUR, DEC 7 (IANS): Indian government negotiators and leaders of Nagaland’s dominant separatist group ended three-days of talks in Amsterdam with a resolve to resume discussions early next year to bring the curtains down on nearly six decades of insurgency in the northeastern state.
Labor Minister Oscar Fernandes and main peace interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah headed the government team in the discussions that ended on Wednesday. Guerrilla leader Th. Muivah headed the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isaak Muivah (NSCN-IM), the main rebel group in the state.
“The two parties held a series of discussions on outstanding issues and agreed to resume discussions early next year. We are hopeful of making further progress in resolving those issues,” a joint communiqué signed by Padmanabhaiah and Muivah said.
The NSCN-IM and the government entered into a ceasefire in August 1997. This has been renewed regularly. The present ceasefire expires June 2007.
The NSCN had in October proposed “a special federal arrangement” that enables the Nagas self-governance although the negotiations ended inconclusively. It is also seeking a separate Naga constitution under a special federal tie up.
“We have reiterated our demands for a special federal arrangement. We were told that our demands will be taken up again in talks in January,” a NSCN-IM leader said.
“We have made our point very clear that delaying the peace process would be counter productive as the Nagas are getting restive.”
