Kohima: To impress upon central leaders to expedite the ongoing Naga peace talks for an early settlement of the protracted political conflict, all 60 members of the Nagaland assembly will proceed to New Delhi in August.
“All the legislators would proceed to Delhi to meet the central leaders to discuss vital issues pertaining to Naga political conflict,” Kiyanilie Peseyie, speaker and convenor of Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga political issue, said in a release here.
He urged all members of the house to reach New Delhi by August 6. The Forum, formed two years back to facilitate the ongoing peace process, in its meeting on July 19 unanimously resolved that the legislators would resign en-masse to facilitate any interim political arrangement following a peace deal between the Centre and the Naga groups.
The NSCN(I-M) has been in peace parleys with the Centre for over a decade towards finding an honourable settlement to the vexed Naga political conflict.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as well as his predecessor S C Jamir, have on many occasions expressed their readiness to step down to pave the way for an alternative arrangement in the event of any political settlement of the Naga problem.
Meanwhile, apex tribal council Naga Hoho on Wednesday appreciated the July 19 landmark decision of the Joint Legislators’ Forum expressing their willingness to resign in the event of a political settlement.
The Hoho appealed to the Naga MLAs in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to follow the footsteps of Nagaland legislators in case of any peace agreement or political settlement in Naga inhabited areas.
The Hoho on Wednesday held a consultative meeting here to study the prevailing situation in the Naga areas, including the government’s draft modalities for exploration of oil and natural gas in Nagaland.
The Naga Hoho, in a statement, appreciated the Government of India and “the principal negotiators” for working with utmost care and sincerity towards bringing about a political settlement to the vexed Naga problem at the earliest.
The council reiterated its earlier resolution that the Naga political problem must be resolved within the year 2012.
The apex council also reminded the underground groups that the “Naga reconciliation process” can not be considered “a license to impose taxes” on the innocent citizens of Nagaland. It also urged all groups to shun all forms of kidnappings and killings in the Naga areas.
On draft modalities for exploration of oil and natural gas, the Council said the consultative meeting could not arrive at any definite conclusion.
Therefore, it was resolved that the respective tribal Hohos (council) would submit their views and opinions in written format to the Naga Hoho on or before July 31 for submission to the cabinet sub-committee on natural resources. (PTI)