Naga Hoho Lauds Centre, NSCN(I-M) For Resumption of Peace Talks

Kohima, Mar 2  : With the Centre-NSCN(I-M) peace talks to begin from Tuesdayin Delhi with new government pointsman R S Pandey, the apex tribal council Naga Hoho said the resumption of dialogue had given 'momentum' to the Naga people.

Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo and general secretary P Chuba Ozukum in a joint statement in Kohima said the Naga people strongly felt that it was time for the Centre to have 'strong zeal and commitment' for the talks which had
carried on for over 10 years and might be the longest dialogue in the history of conflict resolution.

The statement said that the talks had given 'momentum' to the Naga people and hoped the government of India would be 'more sincere this time in resolving the conflict'.

The outfit's general secretary Th. Muivah, the chief negotiator for NSCN(I-M), had arrived in New Delhi on February 27 to resume the stalled peace talks at the invitation of the government.

Meanwhile, Naga organisations in four hill districts of Manipur on Monday held rallies in support of the talks demanding early settlement of the vexed problem.

NSCN(I-M)'s key demand for bringing Naga inhabited areas of the region into a single administrative setup has been strongly opposed by Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.