NSCN (IM) uneasy over next round of talks

DIMAPUR, March 11: After months of speculations on the early settlement of the much hyped Naga political problem, Nagaland assembly elections got over and so has the hype.

Sources from the NSCN-IM said today it is not clear now when the next round of talks which was earlier billed as the 'may-be the last round of talks' will happen.

The tentative date of NSCN-IM leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu to go to New Delhi is also not clear now.

The sources however said the two NSCN-IM leaders are likely to leave Nagaland in the last part of March.

Currently, both Muivah and Swu are intensively engaging with the Naga civil organisations, individuals and well wishers.

Late last year, the speculations had climaxed to the zenith that the protracted Naga political problem was about to be settled in a few months’ time.  The speculations were even fueled by the comment of Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who had said that "settlement" to the Naga issue would be brought about by March, 2013 or before the Nagaland assembly elections. That situation was even buttered it by the concerted show of the now-unheard Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) formed by the 60 MLAs of the Nagaland legislative assembly of the previous tenure to push for the early settlement of the Naga political proble.

Meanwhile, the recent expression of a senior NSCN-IM functionary, Rh Raising speaks volumes about the state of affairs on the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and the Naga outfit.

Rh Raising, Executive member of the Steering Committee which is the highest decision making body of the NSCN-IM had stated on March 5 that the Constitution of India has been the road-block to the Indo-Naga political solution. "Dictated accord or peace is no solution but it is a time bomb. Imposition of one’s will upon the other is the philosophy of tyrants and imperialists," added the senior NSCN-IM leader.