Talks will be based on the issue of sovereignty
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 22
The NSCN (K) yesterday said it is only waiting for a formal invitation from the Prime Minister of India to begin talks with the Government of India. The group has said it would not be in a hurry but would give ample time to the Centre to make preparations for the dialogue.
Interacting with a section of newspersons here yesterday, envoy to the collective leadership of the NSCN (K) Kughalu Mulatonu however said the talks with the GOI would be based on the issue of ‘sovereignty’ for Nagaland. The terms of ‘sovereignty’ would be defined by the NSCN (K) chairman SS Khaplang and general secretary N Kitovi Zhimomi once the talks begin. He claimed that the term ‘sovereignty’ can be interpreted in different ways and that the NSCN (K) ‘knows the reality of the term.’
Mulatonu also disclosed that during his recent stay in New Delhi, he had met several central leaders to expedite the peace process and to convey the group’s willingness to begin political negotiations.
On the delay in holding talks with the Government of India, he said “we have been giving opportunity to the Government of India and NSCN-IM to prove that they will be able to achieve something for their own betterment but during the last 12 years of peace talks, the NSCN-IM has not been able to achieve anything. “IM does not have any issue, except social and economical problem with the Government of India but NSCN has a political problem with India,” he asserted.
Explaining its decision to start dialogue with India even as talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) continues, Mulatonu said during the last 12 years of ceasefire and 70 rounds of dialogues between them, they have achieved nothing. Moreover, he asserted that the NSCN (K) and the rival NSCN (IM) do not have the same issue. “IM does not have any issue, except social and economical problem with the Government of India but NSCN has a political problem with India,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, while admitting that the NSCN (K) is giving shelter to several other outfits from the Northeast in its bases in Myanmar, he however denied having links with terror outfits of Islamic groups such as the Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islami and Al Qaeda. The NSCN (K) envoy also affirmed that it is fully committed to full implementation of the agreed ceasefire ground rules.
With Inputs from Newmai News Network
