Naga delegation arriving in capital for talks with Centre

New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) A high-level delegation of the hardcore Naga groups is arriving here today to discuss the various pending issues of the Naga problems with the Centre along with the object of securing a further extension of ceasefire at least for a period of one more year.

According to sources, the present ceasefire will expire on July 31.

The delegation is expected to be led by the National Socialists Concil of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) Chairman Isak Chisi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah along with other members.

The Naga delegation group will meet the Group of Ministers led by the Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes along with the interlocutor for Naga peace talks the former Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah to discuss the most sensitive issue of the inclusion of all Naga inhabitated areas from Arunachal Pradesh, Asom and Manipur under "Greater Nagaland".

The NSCN-IM had submitted a charter of demands to the Goverment which included the most urging issue of the unification of all Naga populated areas under one Nagaland state and a seperate constitution for them under the overall sovereignty of the Constitution.

Incidentally though all the three affected State Governments and their people have strongly opposed this idea, the Centre has so far not made any clear statement on the issue.

The delegation is keen on clinching the issue. "We want a definite positive result," the sources added.

The meeting will be held here on July 21-22 for talks to carry forward the peace process and the delegation of the NSCN-IM will leave Dimapur for New Delhi today.

For Naga leadership, it was equally difficult to leave the issue of ''Greater Nagaland'' since it came up as an outcome of a voluntary plebescite carried out in early 1950's where nearly 99 per cent Nagas voted in support of the formation of a ''Greater Nagaland'' comprising areas inhabited by the Nagas from the adjoining States, the sources added.

UNI