Indian Govt Willing to Give Autonomy to Nagaland: Sources

 

New Delhi, Mar 2 : The Centre, which held a fresh round of talks with Naga leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday, has offered more autonomy for Nagaland but won't integrate Naga-inhabited parts of Arunachal to Nagaland.

Government is willing to give more autonomy, perhaps even a flag to the Naga's under Article 371 (A).

"The government hasn't given us any counter proposal, we have had comprehensive discussion, we will continue with the talks," said the NSCN (I-M) leader.

The Naga leaders met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.

While the Centre said this time there would be no discussion on sovereignty Muivah has said the NSCN (I-M) would not compromise on sovereignty.
The Centre has prepared a 29-point counter proposal for the discussions this time, which includes financial sops and greater autonomy.

The government had in 2006 offered a 1986 Mizo Accord-type solution to the NSCN (I-M), which was rejected.

Quick points

• Since truce agreement in 1997, NSCN(I-M) has held 50 round of negotiations so far with the Indian government
• There are three factions on NSCN on ceasefire with the government. NSCN(I-M), NSCN(Khaplang) and NSCN(Unification)
• The Indian Government has denied the issues of sovereignty and Greater Nagaland
• The inhabitants of the hill districts of Manipur have been fighting for integration of their areas with Nagaland
• NSCN(I-M) has been violating ceasefire ground rules by carrying our abductions and extortions and its cadres have been moving outside the designated camps with arms
• It runs full fledged camps in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur against ceasefire ground rules
• The NSCN(I-M) has been passing its annual budget to the tune of Rs 200 million to Rs 250 million each year
• Drug trafficking from Myanmar is reported to be a major source of income for the NSCN(I-M)
• NSCN(I-M) also earns through gunrunning and by providing arms training to smaller outfits in the North East
• The outfit has also established a government-in-exile called the Government of the People's Republic of Nagaland (GPRN) which interacts with formal and non-formal world bodies and media. The GPRN sends emissaries abroad to garner support and raise funds for the Naga cause
• People in Nagaland say that the solution to Naga issue cannot be solved by talks with NSCN(I-M) alone. Other groups must be included