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India begins peace talks to end violence in Northeast in Amsterdam

IRNA

Guwahati, Sept 17, IRNA -- Indian authorities and leaders of a front 
line tribal separatist group begins peace talks Wednesday in 
Amsterdam, aimed at ending more than 56-years of violent insurgency 
in the country`s northeast, officials said. 
At least six top leaders of the National Socialist Council of 
Nagaland (NSCN) were expected to take part in the two-day peace talks 
to be headed by federal government peace negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah. 
"The talks are part of the ongoing peace process in Nagaland," the
spokesman said. 
Led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, 
the NSCN is currently operating a ceasefire with New Delhi since 
August 1997. 
The NSCN, fighting for an independent homeland for the Naga tribes
in Nagaland, is the oldest and the most powerful of the nearly 30-odd 
rebel armies operating in the region. 
"We are pinning great hopes on the talks although we know we 
cannot expect a solution overnight," a senior NSCN leader told IRNA 
by telephone from Dimapur, Nagaland`s commercial hub. 
The NSCN is likely to raise its demand for integrating all Naga 
tribal inhabited areas in the northeast during the Amsterdam talks, 
dubbed as `very crucial` by both the sides. 
The NSCN is stressing on the need for creation of a Greater 
Nagaland by carving slices off the neighbouring states of Arunachal 
Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur -- all of which have sizeable Naga 
populations. 
"Without the unification of the Naga homeland (Greater Nagaland), 
there can be no permanent solution," the NSCN leader said. 
The demand for a Greater Nagaland is, however, not acceptable to 
the other regional states in the northeast. "There would be more 
turmoil than peace in the region if New Delhi tries to appease the 
NSCN by agreeing for a Greater Nagaland," Manipur Chief Minister 
Okram Ibobi Singh said. 
But amid the controversies, NSCN leaders are hopeful for a 
settlement. 
"We are positive in our approach and hope things would work out 
well," another NSCN leader said. 
"The ceasefire ground rules have at times been violated which is 
not conducive for permanent peace in the state," Nagaland Home 
Minister T. Lotha said. 
/211 
End