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Ban on Naga outfit lifted

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV. 26. The ban on the Naga secessionist group NSCN(IM) has effectively been lifted paving the way for talks in New Delhi between the Government and the Naga leaders, T. Muivah and Isak Swu. The breakthrough comes three years after talks between Mr. Muivah and the Government's special emissary, the former Home Secretary, K. Padmanabhaiah.

The NSCN(IM) has been banned since it was formed, following a split in the NSCN, in the 1980s. Its leaders Mr. Muivah and Mr. Swu have been in self-imposed exile in Thailand. Their meetings with Mr. Padmanabhaiah have been held either in Thailand or in Europe. In recent talks in Italy the Naga leaders had in principle agreed to talks in India. The Government's decision not to renew the ban on the organisation, which lapsed today, fulfils a major condition for the talks.

Last week, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, had suggested that the Naga leaders arrive in Delhi in mid-December. But there is as yet no time-table for the talks. A formula for the talks and a time-table for the meetings are being work out. These would be ready "fairly soon''.

He also said that the Naga leaders were expected to meet the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Mr. Advani while in Delhi for "an exchange of views''.

Mr. Vajpayee had earlier met the Naga leaders in Paris in September 1998 and again last year while on an official visit to Japan.

Serious efforts at talks with the NSCN(IM) began in the mid 1990s.

The lifting of the ban will permit the Naga leaders unrestricted travel in India.

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