To give a fresh impetus to the Naga peace process, the Centre will hold dialogue with the top leadership of the NSCN(IM) in the first week of April.
The Naga militant group’s chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who are currently based abroad, will arrive in the country and discuss ways to find out a lasting solution to the six decade old insurgency problem in the Northeast.
“On the invitation of the government of India, the NSCN (IM) leadership has proposed to come to India between April 1 - 10 to hold talks and carry forward the peace process,” a Home Ministry official said.
To facilitate the talks and to bring about an early solution, the government will soon appoint an interlocutor for the dialogue.
The Centre has also submitted a 29-point counter proposal to the NSCN saying all Naga groups must unite and come for talks before the final settlement was reached.
But the NSCN(IM) said other outfits were non-mandated groups. Mr. Muivah had said recently that participation of other “non-mandated” groups in the talks for settlement of the issue would only dilute what has been achieved in the talks so far.
Officials said the Centre was trying to bring all underground and tribal groups of Nagaland under a single roof and hammer out a new political and economic solution acceptable to all.
The Centre’s proposed package includes financial largesse, greater devolution of powers, special steps for the protection of Naga culture and heritage besides others.
Officials said a solution could be found only if militant groups like NSCN—IM, NSCN—K and other organisations such as Naga Hoho come under a single platform and show readiness for negotiation.
All contentious issues, including integration of Naga inhabited areas, are expected to figure in the meeting.
The ceasefire between the NSCN—IM and the Centre completed 11 years and during this period, there were over 50 rounds of talks without any breakthrough.
