Govt, NSCN-IM to Carry Forward Peace Process

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) Differences on key issues notwithstanding, the Government and the NSCN-IM -- dialoguing for peace in Amsterdam -- today agreed to carry forward the peace process aimed at finding a lasting solution to the six-decade-old insurgency in the north-eastern Indian state of Nagaland.

New Delhi's negotiators -- led by Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes -- held discussions in the Dutch capital with an NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah) team -- headed by Chairman Isaac Chisi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah -- for three days beginning December 4 and broke the deadlock that set in during the previous round of talks in October.

According to a FAX message received here from Amsterdam -- and jointly signed by Government Representative K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN-IM General Secretary Th Muivah, both sides held ''a series of discussions on serious outstanding issues'' and agreed to resume discussions early next year.

Both sides were also ''hopeful to make further progress in resolving those (serious outstanding) issues'', the message said.

According to informed sources, both sides were understood to have discussed the limits of flexibility within the constitution and whether a ''sub- national constitution'' could be accommodated within it -- this has become a thorny issue as the NSCN-IM had proposed a Federal relationship with the Indian Union.

Reports of major clashes between cadres of the NSCN-IM and its rival NSCN-Khaplang, which resulted in the death of several people in the recent past, also figured during the talks.

The three-day meeting also reviewed progress made since the NSCN-IM submitted a 20-point charter of demands to the Centre. In this charter, the NSCN-IM had sought the unification of all Naga-inhabited areas of the northeast, separate representation at the UN and greater rights over natural resources, finance, defence and policing.

NSCN-IM is the dominant insurgent group in Nagaland and has been active in violent activities to further its cause.

The entire activity of the organisation is aimed at achieving three alternate objectives: -- The first alternative is about establishing an independent Nagaland comprising of the present territory of Nagaland and the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur and Myanmar.

-- The second alternative aims at integrating the Naga-inhabited districts of Manipur into a new state under the Indian constitution.

-- The last alternative seeks to form a Southern Nagaland comprising the districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong within the Indian Union.

NSCN-IM aims to establish a People's Republic of Nagaland based on Mao's ideology. Its manifesto is based on the principle of socialism for economic development and a spiritual outlook Nagaland for Christ.

UNI BKS/DG RL RAI1843