The 68th round of peace talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah leadership, by all indications, are heading for a deadlock, as the both sides are rigid on the issues of sovereignty.
'I am happy to announce the appointment of R S Pandey as the interlocutor and the representative of the government of India to hold talks with NSCN-IM,' Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement.
One of the senior most leaders of the Congress party and former chief minister of Nagaland, S C Jamir on Thursday called for a change in approach on part of the Government of India in respect of Naga peace talks.
Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who signed the pact with the Indian government, says the framework agreement will lead to a new relationship
The unrelenting efforts by civil society groups in Nagaland to broker peace between the two warring factions of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland has reportedly made some headway. Leaders of the two factions of the rebel group -- NSCN-IM and NSCN-K -- have agreed to work out modalities for a possible merger.The NSCN, which was formed in 1980, split in 1988. The two factions have since been engaged in a bloody conflict for geographical and financial control.
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union has expressed anguish over the activities of the NSCN factions -- NSCN-IM and NSCN-K -- in the two districts having border with Myanmar where the Naga rebels have their bases.
The incident occurred when a 48-wagon goods train carrying petroleum products from Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Golaghat district of Assam to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh were forcibly brought to a halt by miscreants at Siding, a densely-forested area with an intention to siphon out petroleum fuels from those wagons. However, attempts to break open a wagon loop led to 'toxic emission'.
Official sources informed that the state government is taking serious view of the growing activities of the AANLA that was formed in 2005 by a section of frustrated tribal youth with help from bigger militants groups, including the banned United Liberation Front of Assam and Naga rebel group, the NSCN-IM.
Altogether 58 militants, including 52 from the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and six from two Naga rebels groups, gave up arms before the Army in two separate surrender ceremonies on Tuesday.
"This time, we want something concrete from the government on our demands. Otherwise it is futile to meet only for the extension of the ceasefire," NSCN-IM spokesman Tongmeth Wangnao Konyak told PTI on phone.
The agreement for the ceasefire was signed by interlocutor for the Naga talks K Padmanabhiah and NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.
The current spell of the ceasefire will end on July 31.
Three Army personnel were killed on Thursday and four injured when suspected NSCN rebels ambushed their vehicle in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district bordering Nagaland.
Speaking at Camp Hebron, the NSCN-IM's central headquarters, Swu said New Delhi's recognition of the 'unique history and situation' of the Naga people had not been translated into reality.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah is aiming to carry forward the ongoing Naga peace process.
The two sides agreed to meet again later in March, possibly in the last week of the month.
Naga students have the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah leader a rousing welcome.
There were indications that the ceasefire could be extended only for six months, unlike last July's one year.
Naga splinter groups impatient with stalled talks as well as rebel Manipuri groups who have a stake in disrupting upcoming elections to the state assembly, are believed to be regrouping in the borderlands of China's Yunnan province and Myanmar, taking advantage of the turmoil in the latter by using it as a transit corridor.
The chief minister suggested talks without any precondition from both sides.
'According to top government sources, the territorial boundaries of the existing North-Eastern states will not be disturbed although cultural integration of Nagas living in states other than Nagaland will be facilitated through special measures,' reveals Nitin A Gokhale.
A joint statement signed by the two sides at the conclusion of their three-day talks said "both parties must work to maintain a peaceful and violence-free environment till then."
As neighbouring states of Nagaland await clarity on the Naga peace accord, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said any move that affects the interests of his state will be opposed "tooth and nail".
Rijiju said the central government will rehabilitate all Indian citizens in the Naga group if they abjure violence.
The PM added that developing the infrastructure in the north-east region is being given top priority by the government.
AFSPA can be safely lifted from almost 90 per cent of Nagaland, argues Shekhar Gupta.
The Army says such a move will seriously jeopardise surveillance over the country's sensitive border with China.
The ongoing vicious game between Delhi and the so-called 'separatist' militias has severely blighted the Nagas' life and gutted their dignity, says Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-K leader S S Khaplang, whose outfit carried out the June 4 attack on the Army in Manipur, is believed to be ill and convalescing in a Yangon hospital.
Khaplang died following a cardiac arrest.
Echoing Rahul, Manipur CM Ibobi Singh too demanded that the contents of the accord be made public and uploaded on the Internet.
Congress complained against Modi, Shah, Irani; the BJP against Rahul Gandhi.
The Centre on Friday reviewed the situation in Manipur in the wake of the crippling economic blockade of a highway, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asking the state government to end the "worrisome" conditions that have triggered a "humanitarian crisis".
The decision has been taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The venom and contemptuous sarcasm evident on the army's tweet on the Yeti and my reply has something to do with the intrinsic hatred that a section of the media nurses against the right wing, says Tarun Vijay.
Illegal weapons proliferation through the porous India-Myanmar border in the north-east has been a boon for the Maoists operating in the rest of the country. It has been disclosed by the Bharatiya Janata Party's national security cell convenor P Chandrasekhar following his situation review meeting with convenors of state BJP security cells in the north-east.
With PM Modi's visit, the time has come for a relook at India-Myanmar ties, and elevate the relationship to higher levels, says Dr Rahul Mishra.
In a strong warning to those disrupting border peace, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said the country will not hesitate in retaliating if someone fires first and asserted the government is ready to talk to Pakistan over PoK and not Kashmir.
Ahead of Sushma Swaraj's visit, Myanmarese soldiers take over Indian territory.
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