President of ENPO, A Chingmak Chang, adressing the media.
(EM Images)
DIMAPUR — The second round of tripartite talks
on Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) issue was held at Chümoukedima Police
Complex on Wednesday, January 15.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted for approximately six
hours, was held among three stakeholders led by the Ministry of Home Affairs’
Northeast Advisor, AK Mishra; Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO)
president, A Chingmak Chang; and Nagaland Chief Secretary, J Alam.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, the ENPO president
said that they had discussed some issues “which we cannot disclose.”
He, however, shared that “one important aspect” of their
discussions was on unemployment. It was informed that the ENPO had suggested
introducing a battalion of “any central regiment” to absorb the unemployed
youths of the region.
Also, Chang said that their request to the government of
India to enhance and modernise the Village Guards establishment was accepted.
On the eve of Wednesday’s meeting, the organisation issued a
press statement “outrightly” discouraging the formation of an “Eastern Naga
Unemployed Youth Forum.”
Reiterating its ‘executive, legislative, and financial
autonomy’ demand, Chang said, “We cannot sign any document unless the demand
for executive, legislative, and financial autonomy is there—which they have
agreed to in principle.”
According to ENPO leader, “The demand of ENPO was separate
statehood, and the Centre had offered the FNT, so we hope that the government
of India is serious and the solution will be acceptable and honourable to the
ENPO.”
Chang acknowledged that out of the so many demands, there
were some key issues on which they could not come to a conclusion.
That is what, he said, they have discussed thoroughly in
today’s meeting. “The negotiations are on the right track. The meeting was held
positively,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the first round of tripartite talks
between the central government, ENPO, and Nagaland government was held in Delhi
on December 13 last year.
