In talks with Delhi over defence, external affairs, says Muivah

While blaming the Centre for dragging peace talks aimed at ending the decades-long insurgency in the Naga hills...

While blaming the Centre for dragging peace talks aimed at ending the decades-long insurgency in the Naga hills, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has said his outfit was in talks over defence and external affairs and was looking at the Indian Constitution to see what parts could be acceptable to them.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express at the NSCN (I-M)’s Camp Hebron headquarters, 47 km from Dimapur, Muivah said their offer of a federal relationship meant the federation of Nagalim and India had to be separate entities.

“This must be made very clear. We do not mean a federation within the Indian Union. An agreement should be arrived at, and that agreement should be incorporated in both the Naga and Indian constitutions, in such a way that unilateral amendment is not possible.”

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“If there can be no progress, it is simply meaningless to go on talking and extending the ceasefire,” Muivah said.

He said Article 371-A, which gives special status to Nagaland in terms of customary practices and land ownership, could not be the basis for a solution to the Naga issue.