NSCN-IM may end truce if no headway in talks

KOHIMA: The NSCN-IM has warned that it might withdraw from its ceasefire with the Centre if no breakthrough is made in the ongoing peace talks between the
two sides.
 
"The NSCN-IM will not hesitate to pull out of the truce if the peace talks fail to make any headway and the Centre is unable to check the ground situation," NSCN-IM
leader V S Atem told a function at Tsiemek Huma village here on Tuesday.
 
The former chief of the group's armed wing said during the next round of talks, scheduled in the first week of September, the NSCN-IM would ask the Centre to spell out concrete steps to solve the six-decades-old Naga political conflict.
 
Atem pointed out that in its charter of demands submitted earlier to the Centre, it had demanded, among others, a separate constitution and flag for the Nagas, integration of Naga-inhabited areas and a joint defence mechanism.
 
He, however, said the NSCN-IM had agreed to accept the Indian currency "considering the changed global scenario", but would not compromise on the flag and constitution. 

The decade-long ceasefire between the group and the Centre was extended indefinitely when leaders of both the sides met in Dimapur last month.

 The NSCN-IM held the army and intelligence agencies responsible for the ground situation in Nagaland, alleging they were providing all logistic supports to its rival groups
that has resulted in factional clashes.
 
Noting the issue was discussed in the Dimapur round of talks on July 31, Atem said the two sides would hold a review meeting next week in Delhi to assess the situation. The
meeting would be attended by him and the Union Home Secretary.
 
On the other hand, NSCN-IM general secretary Th. Muivah told a function celebrating what the organisation calls Naga Independence Day on Tuesday at its headquarters Camp Hebron that Nagas should not falter in their fight to determine their own fate and future.