Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks RN Ravi on Monday held talks with the working committee of six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and different civil society groups at Chumukedima near Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur and appealed for everyone’s participation in the Naga talks.
The meeting assumes historic importance for Nagaland as talks are being held after almost three decades — the first being the talks with NSCN (IM) held in New Delhi in 1997. Although the Central government had been holding talks with the NSCN (IM) yet several civil society groups had been demanding to include the other underground groups including the NSCN (K) in the talks.
“I would like to appeal all the factions for unity. The government of India is going to have one peace agreement with the Nagas and I still want the NSCN (K) to join the peace process,” Ravi said while appreciating the efforts of Naga social organizations who had taken a bold step to unite all the factions and groups over the talk process.
The talk today also assumes significance considering the fact that earlier most of the talks are being held in New Delhi and this is for the first time that the talks are held in Nagaland.
It may be mentioned here that NSCN (K) had in 2015 abrogated from the ceasefire agreement signed with the government of India and intensified its attack on security forces in Assam Arunachal Pradesh and in Nagaland areas.
“For the first time talks looks inclusive, we are happy. We are committed to it. We will meet for next round of discussion,” said Wanting Naga, Co-convenor of NNPGs after emerging out of the meeting and expressing his happiness.
“We have always insisted on talks being inclusive. We want unity of talks. We are trying to bring all factions to peace talks again. Channels of communication are opened with new chairman of the NSCN (K), Khango Konyak,” said President of Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) Khoiwang Konyak.
A formal cease-fire agreement between the Government and NSCN I-M was signed in 1997. There was several rounds of talks between the government of India and NSCN-IM culminating in signing of framework agreement in 2015.