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DIMAPUR — In what was dubbed as resumption of peace talks on Naga political issue, the government of India had a series of parleys with two major Naga political groups (NPGs) -- NSCN (IM) and the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG) -- in New Delhi last week but there was no significant outcome from the meetings held separately.
Read here: Naga peace talks set to resume; NSCN-IM, WC-NNPG leaders camping in New Delhi
A source from the NSCN (IM) told this news paper that its eight-member delegation led by collective leadership Rh Raising held three rounds of meeting with the government of India’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks AK Mishra in the national capital on July 11, 14 and the 15th.
They deliberated issues related to competences in connection with the Naga issue but “no specific matters were discussed” due to other urgent engagements of the central government, said the source.
The topic of Manipur conflict was not discussed during the meeting though the central raised concern over the ongoing issue in the state, added the source.
The NSCN (IM) delegation is expected to return from Delhi on Wednesday.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]WC-NNPG meeting
Meanwhile, the four-member WC-NNPG delegation led by co-convener Isak Sumi held a meeting with AK Mishra and officials from the offices of the Home Minister and the Prime Minister on July 11.
Secretary of WC-NNPG, G. Naga, told this newspaper that ‘the meeting served as a courtesy call, primarily aimed at briefing on the current status’ of the Naga political issue, adding that there were no further discussions required from the group as the negotiations had already concluded.
During the meeting, they discussed the current status of the Naga political issue, on the part of the Government of India, while the WC-NNPG also expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
Inquiring how the central government was addressing the situation in the neighbouring state of Manipur, the group also had highlighted that it was inappropriate for the Government of India to remain silent on the matter, said G. Naga.
He added that the GoI lauded Nagas for providing refuge and assistance to both the Kuki and Meitei communities, who were facing hardships due to the conflict.
When asked if the demand of the Eastern Naga Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) was discussed during the meeting, the secretary of WC-NNPG replied that the Government of India had clarified the nature of the proposal, that it primarily pertains to non-political matters with focus on the economic development of the ENPO area.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Further, he said that the Indo-Naga political issue is a separate chapter altogether and the government of India expressed its intention to support the progress of ENPO tribes in economic and social aspects by granting them financial autonomy.
Naga also mentioned that they had specifically requested the Government of India to refrain from equating the ENPO issue with the broader Indo-Naga political matter, as they are two distinct issues.
Surrendering of Naga national workers
On report that the government of India is keen to demand surrendering of Naga national workers from the ENPO region upon the signing of agreement on the ENPO’s demand, the secretary of WC-NNPG dismissed it, terming it as a ‘mischievous work by certain individuals’.
He further clarified that both the GoI and the ENPO leaders had explicitly stated that there was no such proposal or intention on the table regarding the reported demand for surrendering of Naga national workers from the region.
He went on to say that the ENPO officials had also confirmed to them that no such proposal had been made by the central government.