The Hindu : Elections will not solve Nagaland problem: Muivah

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 11, 2003

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National

Elections will not solve Nagaland problem: Muivah

By Anjali Mody

NEW DELHI JAN. 10. "I was born in Ukhrul, it is the land of my forefathers. That is Nagaland for us. We are not living in the land of the Meitis. If others cannot accept that, there is nothing for us to do," the Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah, said here today.

He was responding to newspersons' queries whether Ukrul in Manipur from where he came from, was part of Nagaland.

To a question on the possibility of the NSCN (I-M) participating in the coming elections to Nagaland, he said emphatically: "No sir". His organisation would play no role in the elections which "would not solve the problems of Nagaland". The "sovereignty" of Nagas should be left to the Nagas. Asked if this implied that the NSCN (I-M)'s final goal remained independence, he said: "that is for you to decide".

On elections, Mr. Muivah said the NSCN (I-M) was of the view that the elections "would not be free and fair". This was also a matter that came up in the meeting with Mr. Advani earlier. Sources in the Union Home Ministry said that Mr. Advani gave the Naga leaders the example of Jammu and Kashmir where the same fears had been proved wrong.

The sources said that the Naga leaders had made a clear distinction between the coming elections and the peace negotiations. They had emphasised to Mr. Advani that they believed that the talks would not be affected by the election or the outcome.

Isak Swu, who described the meeting with Mr Advani as very "positive", said: "we do not agree with the election process. We are appealing to the Centre to go ahead with the talks without considering the election process".

Sources in North Block said the meeting with Mr. Advani today and the Prime Minister yesterday were part of a process of "confidence building". The Naga leadership had to be convinced that the Government of India was "sincere". Official level talks on substantive issues are likely to begin during the time that the two leaders are in India.

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