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Nagas to seek removal of interlocutor as talks begin

Guwahati: After months of uncertainty, talks between the Union government and Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) have started again. On Monday, an informal discussion was held between the NSCNIM and officials, including those from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). NSCN-IM delegation was led by chief negotiator Th.

Muivah. Formal talks will take place in the next couple of days. Interlocutor of the peace talks and Nagaland Governor RN Ravi has reached Delhi.

A senior NSCN-IM leader, who does not want to be named, told ET, “While we will be pressing for removal of the interlocutor as meaningful dialogue is not possible without that. We will have some rounds of informal discussions and later there will be political-level talks.” The apex body of Naga tribes, Naga Hoho, has expressed its unhappiness with the style of functioning of the interlocutor and sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, following which it received an invitation for talks.

The NSCN-IM leader added, “The task is now finalisation of the draft agreement. The Government of India wants one pact with all the groups.” On July 16, interlocutor RN Ravi and NSCN (I-M), led by Th. Muivah, were slated to hold talks but, the meeting was postponed as the latter was taken ill. The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) met in Dimapur last month and decided to work for finalisation of the draft agreement. There was an intensive decision between Ravi and these groups in October last year where a major contentious issue like separate flag was resolved.

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