The Hindu : Talks with NSCN(I-M) next week

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Monday, Jul 08, 2002

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Talks with NSCN(I-M) next week

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 7. The Centre's designated interlocutor in the northeast, K. Padmanabhaiah, met the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Lal Kishen Advani, on Saturday to get a "brief'' from them for the next round of talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M).

The "ceasefire'' in Nagaland with the insurgents, led by the NSCN (I-M), expires at the end of this month. Mr. Padmanabhaiah, a former Union Home Secretary, will travel to Amsterdam to hold talks with the Naga leader, Thungelang Muivah, and his colleagues from July 8 to July 10.

In the meeting with Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Padmanabhaiah gave a report on the progress so far.

There is a sense of satisfaction that there is "progress,'' and perhaps the next round of talks could take place in India.

So far the talks have been held in Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Recently, the Nagaland Government was reported to have dropped a criminal case pending against Mr. Muivah in a Dimapur court.

Till now, the Naga leader was liable to arrest and was, therefore, unwilling to travel to India.

It is also significant that the Centre has so far not banned the NSCN (I-M) under the Prevention Of Terrorism Act.

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Talks with NSCN(I-M) next week