Schoolchildren participate in a rally in Imphal on Monday
demanding the release of jailed NSCN (I-M) leader Anthony Ningkhin
Shimray. Kohima, April 18 : The 15-year talks between the Centre and the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) appears to be heading for a deadlock with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveying his government’s inability to accept the outfit’s core demands.
The Centre has ruled out
sovereignty and integration of contiguous Naga areas to hammer out a
solution to the more than 60-year-old Indo-Naga political problem. It
has reportedly offered greater autonomy to Nagas living in states
outside Nagaland, an arrangement that has been opposed by non-Naga
organisations in Manipur.
Singh also ruled
out the NSCN’s demand for far more powers in the federal relationship
between ‘Nagalim’ and New Delhi than is enjoyed by Indian states, even
as NSCN chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng
Muivah camped in New Delhi for the next round of talks with central
leaders.
Nagaland chief
minister Neiphiu Rio, who is believed to support Naga nationalism, today
said going by Singh’s recent statements, New Delhi was not in a
position to accept the demands of the NSCN.
Describing Singh
as a thorough gentleman, Rio, who met the Prime Minister recently,
indicated that the Centre was not in a position to accept the core
demands of the NSCN.
“Whatever is
possible will be possible even after 100 years but whatever is not
possible will not be possible even after 100 years,” he quoted Singh as
saying.
Inaugurating the
Naga Solidarity Park near the secretariat here today, Rio said Singh had
asked him to tell the Naga organisations to be “reasonable”. He said
Singh did not mean that Nagas were not reasonable in their approach to
hammer out a solution to the Naga political problem but had simply
conveyed a message to the Nagas for being reasonable.
Asking the Nagas
to “think out of the box”, Rio warned that breakdown of ceasefire
between the Centre and the NSCN could cost them dearly as in the past
when thousands of Nagas were killed, raped and inhumanly tortured during
imposition of the Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces (Special
Powers) Act in Nagaland. He said the Nagas wanted peace and development
and did not want to go back to those years.
Treading
cautiously, Rio said at this juncture the Nagas were being offered a
good opportunity to come together and resolve the Naga political
problem. Rio said with the ongoing ceasefire and talks, Nagas should
grab the opportunity and claim what was due to them. “Let us put our
heads together and solve the problem,” he urged the Nagas at the mammoth
gathering that was led by Naga Hoho, the apex body of the Nagas.
Rio said New Delhi
and the world community had recognised the uniqueness of Naga history
but regretted that the Nagas had not yet taken the right decision
despite the opportunity offered to them.
“Take the right decision at the right time so that we do not miss the opportunity,” he said.
He urged the Nagas to rethink and collectively decide what would be best for them.
He said bestowing
of award on Baptist clergyman Rev. Wati Aier by the World Baptist
Alliance was recognition of the Nagas and their political struggle.
Former president of Naga Students’ Federation, Vikheho Swu, said the efforts of Naga organisations would not go in vain.
It would strengthen the bond and unity among the Nagas.
Atoho Kiho,
convener of Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, said they would
continue their efforts so that Nagas find their rightful place in the
world community.
Rio also unveiled a
monolith at the solidarity park. He was accompanied by cabinet
ministers, parliamentary secretaries, legislators and a host of leaders
from Naga organisations.