NSCN (IM) Deputy Ato Kilonser VS Atem.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 14
NSCN (IM) Deputy Ato Kilonser VS Atem has backed the demand for a Ministerial-level interlocutor, and not intelligence officials, to steer the Indo-Naga political talks. “Yes, that is our demand. The Nagaland State government is only facilitating the process. They are providing a boost, and that is all," Atem said on the sidelines of the Naga Independence Day celebration at Hebron Camp, on August 14.
His comments came in response to queries regarding the Nagaland state government’s Political Affairs Committee requesting a Union Ministerial-level negotiator.
The talks between the two entities were initially agreed to take place at the Prime Ministerial level. Citing the PM’s scheduling constraints vis-à-vis personally attending each and every meeting, Atem said that the NSCN (IM) accepted to having an interlocutor representing the PM. Acknowledging the practical difficulty, he said, “We agreed to accept a representative appointed by the Prime Minister as the interlocutor, which has also been the practice in the past.”
However, he maintained that the negotiations require political leadership. “We maintain that this is a political issue, and therefore, a political person should lead and represent the Government of India," he said.
On the venue of future negotiations, Atem stated that its stand has been on holding talks in a third country if New Delhi does not demonstrate sincerity in adhering to the core principles of the agreement. He held that while the Government of India has expressed a desire to settle the issue early, it has struggled to maintain its commitments.
Atem defended the secrecy surrounding the content of the Framework Agreement. According to him, the “single page” document has been “published again and again.” He added that the actual competencies under discussion are currently proposals from both sides and cannot be publicised until they are finalised.
