NSCN (IM) talks team in Delhi

Rubbishes report about final deal by Aug 15

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 7

A team of senior members of the NSCN (IM)’s Collective Leadership reached Delhi on August 7. The team of nine was led by Collective Leadership members, Rh Raising and Lt Gen (retired) VS Atem.

The team will join Ato Kilonser, Th Muivah, who was already in Delhi. He reached Delhi on July 20 alongwith his support staff. 

A senior leader of the NSCN (IM) informed today that other members of the Collective Leadership will head to Delhi in the coming days, following which, formal talks would likely resume. He did not specify any date but stated that it will be subject to the Government of India (GoI) fixing dates for the talks. 

It will be the first talks in Delhi since October 2019— a period that had Nagaland on the edge after unconfirmed reports surfaced claiming that the Government of India stipulated October 31, 2019 as the deadline to arrive at a final deal. 

On the contrary, as reported by The Morung Express at the time, the negotiation was nowhere near an amicable end with NSCN (IM) leaders, privy to the talks, maintaining that it was deadlocked on the issue of separate flag and constitution. 

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had also issued a “clarification” through the Press Information Bureau, stating, “It has come to notice of the Government that lots of rumours and misinformation is being spread in media including social media that final Naga settlement has been arrived at and will be announced soon.” While stating that unsubstantiated reports on the peace talks is “creating  anxiety and concern in some parts of the country,” it said that the concerns of all stakeholders, including Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will be duly considered “before any settlement is arrived at with Naga groups.” 

After October 31, the NSCN (IM) leadership returned to its Council Headquarters in Dimapur, Nagaland. The talks were slated to continue in Dimapur in 2020, following the Christmas break. A few rounds of ‘informal’ talks were held earlier this year before the COVID-19 pandemic took centre stage. 

Rubbishes news report
As both sides await another series of talks in Delhi, there is another report of the Centre calling for a final deal by August 15.  When queried on this, the NSCN (IM) leader maintained that there is no pre-determined deadline, aside from the aspiration to arrive at a conclusion at the earliest. On the health condition of Muivah, he said that the Ato Kilonser was in fine health and will lead the NSCN (IM) negotiating team.