Centre says no to unification, limited sovereignty
NEW DELHI, DEC 23 (AGENCIES): The peace talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India is reportedly stuck over the unification of Naga inhabited areas and the other demand of granting limited sovereignty. According to a news report carried on the December 23 issue of the Indian Express, New Delhi’s Emissaries, Minister for Planning & Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes and K Padmanabhiah, who had gone to Bangkok for talks last week tried to convince the NSCN (IM) that neither the Prime Minister nor the Centre could accept their present demand. Things must be within Constitutional framework, said a senior official to the Indian Express.
Subsequently, they were asked to consider the autonomous status under Article 244A. The NSCN (IM) leaders, however, did not relent and were insistent on their demand for the unification of all Naga inhabited areas, many of which were in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
‘‘Even the suggestion of unifying the areas is enough to create unrest in the neighbouring states. The Centre cannot take any chances and is therefore, treading cautiously,’’ the official added.
Moreover, there can also be no give on NSCN (I-M)’s demand for limited sovereignty, whereby they are insisting on a special federal arrangement in which the Nagas will have to be recognized as an independent entity.
‘‘This is not acceptable, specially since NSCN is not even willing to consider an autonomous system under which defence, foreign affairs, currency and communications will be New Delhi’s responsibility, while other subjects will be under the state’s jurisdiction. The Centre’s emissaries would be flying out again on January 13 for another round of talks in a bid to convince them.
‘‘Even they are under pressure to create unrest and force a migration of the local population,’’ sources in the government told the Indian Express.
As per the news-report keeping the government on tenterhooks, the NSCN (I-M) has refused to extend the six-month ceasefire, which will expire on January 31 2006. Even the government’s offer of granting them an autonomous status has failed to break the ice. The government has convinced NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah for another round of talks in mid-January to discuss extension of ceasefire. But according to the report, the Centre’s emissaries, who had gone to Bangkok for talks last week returned without assurance of ceasefire extension.
.jpg)
