Govt, NSCN-IM to meet frequently

Amsterdam: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has got impatient over the delay in the ongoing Naga peace process.

The Government and the NSCN-IM are all set to meet on Sunday to find an honourable solution to the vexed issue at the earliest.

"We have decided to meet as frequently as possible. We will meet again within a month to expedite the peace process further," Centre's points man for Naga talks and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes said after a meeting with a delegation of the Naga outfit in Amsterdam.

"It is a very good development. The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and it was very fruitful. We have been able to take up all the relevant subjects in the discussion," he said.

The two-day talks between the NSCN-IM and the Government began here on Saturday amid increasing pressure from the Naga outfit seeking an early and "honourable" settlement of the more than five-decade-old problem.

Asked about the details of the meeting, Fernandes said "unless we arrive in finality, it is difficult for us to tell

you subjectwise. But I must say that it is a good development."

The Naga side was led by its Chairman Isaac Chishi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

Apart from Fernandes, the Government was also represented by Centre's interlocutor for the talks K Padmanabhaiah.

Both sides held an informal discussion on Saturday. NSCN-IM has been demanding a clear government stand on unification of Naga-inhabited areas in the North East as well as an early and "honourable settlement" to the problem.

Maintaining that the talks are expected to focus on substantive issues that would be crucial for the future of

Nagas, NSCN-IM 'Kilonser' (minister) for Information and Publicity, Jhoney Dilbung said in a statement in Kohima on Wednesday "if more than half a century (of) loss due to the conflict for both parties cannot be an eye opener and diplomacy replaces it, then there looms graver darkness on the horizon."

Fernandes had told PTI on Tuesday that the Naga issue has to be resolved as a "package" and the Centre would respond point by point to the outfit's charter of demands.