JLF of Nagaland Assembly starts meeting armed Naga groups
Search for broad consensus on in earnest
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

Kohima, August 25 2012: Members of Joint Legislators Forum of Nagaland Assembly, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, today met leaders of S S Khaplang-led NSCN (K) as part of ongoing exercise of meeting all Naga political groups towards building a broad consensus on political negotiations with the Government of India.

Confirming the meeting at Mon, state Home Imkong Imchen told PTI that the interactions with the leaders of NSCN (K) were "free and frank" .

Imchen said JLF clarified its position on Naga political issue and the possibilities of a lasting solution to the vexed Naga problem to the NSCN (K) following the legislators recent resolution and subsequent meeting with the Central leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Cutting across party lines, the JLF had resolved in July that all the 60 members of the state Assembly would resign to pave the way for an alternative political arrangement in the event of a political settlement to the protracted Naga conflict.

Nephiu Ri (L) and Khaplang

Recently all the legislators led by the Speaker and the chief minister met the prime minister, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shindhe and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and conveyed their decision in the greater interest of the Naga people.

The team also urged the Central leaders to expedite the ongoing peace talks with the Naga groups for finding an acceptable and honourable solution before the coming assembly election in the state.

In today's meeting in remote Mon district bordering Myanmar, besides the chief minister and the home minister, CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi, Planning minister T R Zeliang, Medical minister Kuhzoluzo Neinu, Roads and Bridges minister Kiato Aye among others were present while senior functionary Wangtin Konyak led NSCN (K) in the deliberation.

Yesterday about 35 members of JLF led by Chief Minister Neiphu Rio, met the leaders of Khole-Kitovi led NSCN at Chumukedima police complex near Dimapur and informed them about their Delhi visit.

The legislators informed the group about the necessity of having a unanimous voice before the Centre for a permanent solution to the Naga political problem since the Government of India has been insisting that all Naga groups should be part of the peace deal.

Clarifying the stand of the JLF, ruling NPF president and Higher and Technical Education minister Sh�rhozelie told the group that the legislators conveyed to the Central leaders that any settlement (to Naga problem) must be inclusive of all Naga groups.

General secretary N Kitovi Zhimomi led the GPRN/NSCN group in yesterday's meeting where the group sought clarification on the much talked about "alternative (political) arrangement" in the event of a political settlement of the vexed conflict.

After the meeting NSCN (Kohole-Kitovi) leaders told reporters that any alternate arrangement must be made on the basis of the "Naga Concordant" signed last year among the three groups as part of ongoing Naga peace and reconciliation process at the initiative of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) .

On August 26, 2011, the leaders of three groups �NSCN(I-M), GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN � had signed the Naga Concordant at Dimapur which resolved to have a single "Naga National Government" in near future comprising the present three underground governments.

They had also resolved to continue discussions among them to give an effect to this idea of a common structure.

In-charge of information and publicity of GPRN/NSCN asserted that his group was sticking to the Naga Concordant declaration and "any deviation was unacceptable to them" .

Although a small group of legislators reportedly met the NSCN(I-M) top leaders Issac Chishi Swu and Th.Muivah in New Delhi the JLF members would soon meet the leaders of NSCN (I-M ) and NNC/FGN here in Nagaland, sources said.

Various political parties, NGOs, tribal hohos, civil society groups have been insisting that no permanent solution to the vexed Naga problem is possible unless all the Naga groups sit together in political negotiations with the Government of India since not a single group represents the mandate of the entire Nagas.