Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | July 20
Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation and Minister in-charge of the Naga peace process, Oscar Fernandes, who arrived here today on a 2 day ‘special trip’ to Nagaland said that the government of India will work towards effective implementation of the ceasefire ground rules, and strengthening of its mechanism, so as to bring about cessation to the factional feud amongst the Naga national workers.
Oscar was speaking at the ‘ice breaking’ dinner party hosted by the state government in his honour this evening at Hotel Japfu.
Government of India and NSCN-IM will resume talks on July 28-29 at the Thai capital Bangkok, said Oscar, while expressing hope that both sides will arrive at some solution during this talk. He sought the cooperation of state government, NGOs and civil societies in resolving the issue at the earliest. “There is some progress in the talks. I can not say much, but if we move in this direction we will reach somewhere” said the Union Minister.
The minister also said that he had met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Dimapur airport today on his arrival and had coordination meeting with the state government officials in the afternoon. He will meet NGOs and mass based civil societies tomorrow to seek their opinion and views on the ongoing peace process and will leave for Guwahati in the evening after a press conference.
Oscar further added that the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi are both ‘seriously concern’ with the issue. “Bringing peace in this region will mean resolving a major problem for India”, Oscar said in his brief introductory speech.
Oscar Fernandes entertained the gathering with his favourite musical instrument, the “mouth organ”.
“Since you are talking about peace I played this piece’ he said, after playing ‘Silent night, holy night’.
The dinner party was attended by ministers, opposition leader, government officials, NGO leaders and the media.
Meanwhile, the state government today said that they are suspecting some inimical forces working behind the curtain to further the factional feud amongst the Naga national workers.
State Minister for Planning and Coordination, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu while welcoming the Union Minister at Hotel Japfu this evening said that to counter this force the state government is strengthening its intelligent network so as to find out who is really abating the factional clashes.
Without particularizing any agencies, Dr Shurhozelie also said that the government of India should also help in detecting this force which is abating the factional fight amongst the Naga national workers and pave way to resolve this problem.
Dr Shurhozelie further said that confusion are abound in the state as often the factional fights are misinterpreted as law and order problem, which is not so in reality.
He said that the underground factions claim to be fighting for political reason, but these fighting are often translated as law and order problem.
“We want you to view these two issues (factional clash and law and order problem) separately”, said Dr Shurhozelie and asserted that law and order problems are under control.
He also added that the Nagas are quite confused as to how the undergrounds groups are going to bring sovereignty when they are fighting each other.
Dr Shurhozelie reiterated that the DAN government will give way to any alternative arrangement if arrived at during the ongoing talks, while also assuring that the state government will do everything to create congenial atmosphere for the ongoing peace process.
