Bangkok, January 30: The Government of India and rebel Naga leaders today failed to reach an agreement on extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland but agreed to hold informal consultations again tomorrow when the truce expires.

Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who is leading the Government delegation at the talks here with NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, said the discussions were still on and hoped for a positive result by tomorrow when the six-month extension given to the ceasefire ends.

The ceasefire, brokered in 1997, had continued to be extended by a year since then, but last year it was extended only for six months.

"The discussions are on.

It (outcome) can be today or it can be tomorrow," Fernades said.

Samson Jajo, a senior member of the NSCN (IM) told PTI after the third day of the marathon negotiations that the two sides will hold an informal meeting tomorrow morning.

Jajo, who is the Secretary of the Collective Leadership of the Naga group, did not give any details of the day-long talks.

The two sides held formal talks this morning which later spilled into an informal meeting after they failed to reach a decision.

However, the day ended without any agreement being reached.

The NSCN (IM) had said yesterday that unless the Government of India took "positive" steps on the Naga issue, the group saw no need to extend the ceasefire agreement.

"We very, very strongly told the Indian Government negotiators that unless the Government of India took steps to control its armed forces we will not extend the ceasefire agreement," NSCN (IM) said.

The rebel group had alleged that the Indian armed forces had violated the ceasefire agreement by directly helping the rival Khaplang faction.

Fernandes is being aided by veteran negotiator K Padmanabhaiah.

The meeting to discuss the extension of the ceasefire began on Saturday. "If we want to extend the ceasefire, the Government of India has to control the violations otherwise why should we," Jajo had said yesterday.

PTI

Our Staff Reporter adds from Imphal : On being contacted by The Sangai Express today evening, Deputy Kilonser of the Ministry of Information and Publicity of NSCN (IM) K Chawang said that the talk was inconclusive.

The peace talk has been going on for the last 8 years, but there has been no substantial progress, said Chawang and countered with the poser, "What is the rationale of continuing with the peace talk if no solution can be worked out?" As an informal talk is scheduled for tomorrow, we will wait and watch the response of the Government of India, added Chawang.

President of the Naga Students' Federation, Phushika Aomi on being contacted said that their main concern is a lasting solution to the decades old Naga political problem.

"We are not really concerned whether the ceasefire is extended or not, but what we want is a lasting solution/settlement to the Naga issue," asserted the student leader.

To achieve this, the GoI should be sincere, he said and added that since the final outcome of the present negotiation is not known, pending an informal discussion tomorrow, nothing much can be said at the moment.

Spokesman of ANSAM , Ng Souni echoed same the line of the NSF president and added that it is due to the lack of sincerity on the part of the Indian Govt that the peace talk has made no tangible headway though it started as way back as 1997.Echoing the aspirations of the Naga people a huge public rally was staged at Ukhrul on January 24 demanding an early solution to the age old Naga political problem.

IM leaders hold brain storming session

NSCN(IM) leaders based in Nagaland today held an emergency meeting in the wake of three days continous discussions between the GoI and leadership of the group in Bangkok which bears no results so far.

"The leaders had a meeting where they discussed the whole issue and have taken certain decisions which would be forwarded to the leadership in Bangkok," sources said.

"The leaders feel that nine years is a long enough time to take a decision on the issue (unification of the Naga inhabitated areas)," sources from the Naga camp said.

The Naga leaders said they "don't want a ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire without making any tangible progress on the key issue." The meeting also appreciated four former Prime Ministers, for taking keen interest on the issue and their desire for a solution.

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