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The Rediff Interview/ K Padmanabhaiah

'There cannot be peace in Nagaland without the participation of other Naga groups'

The conviction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland secretary T H Muivah in Thailand has shocked the outlawed outfit as well as the Indian government. Top government officials admit in private that the arrest is a major impediment in the peace talks between New Delhi and the Naga insurgents.

Muivah's arrest came a big surprise. In fact, India's negotiator and former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah was preparing to leave the country for an undisclosed destination for talks when the news of his detention by the Thailand police came in.

In an exclusive interview to Onkar Singh, Padmanabhaiah held that the talks hadn't been derailed in the last eight months. He refused to give any timeframe for a solution to the Naga problem. However, he felt that sooner or later the government would have to involve other Naga factions in the peace process if there was to be a lasting solution. Excerpts:

What progress have you made in your talks with the Naga underground leaders?

I was appointed the government negotiator in July last year. On July 20, to be precise. We have had two meetings with the underground leader in this period. The talks were successful. In the very first meeting it was mutually decided that the cease fire would be extended by one year. The most important thing is that peace should prevail in the state.

What happened in the second meeting?

We talked about various irritants that came in the way of extending the cease fire. I have just read that though a peace agreement had been reached to sort out the Irish problem and there is a joint government there, there still are minor problems that they have to sort out from time to time.

What is the NSCN looking for? Are they willing to settle the Naga problem within the framework of the Indian Constitution?

Ultimately a solution has to be found within the framework of the Indian Constitution only. What they are looking for at this point of time is not very important. All this is part of the negotiations.

Is the arrest of Muviah a set back to the peace process?

It is for the NSCN to comment on this issue. We are negotiating with the leadership of the NSCN. I cannot say whether his arrest is a setback or not. The NSCN has to decide what to do next.

Would you intervene if they ask you to assist in his release?

These are hypothetical questions. I do not want to go into them. Our negotiations are with the NSCN as an organisation. So it is for them to think how to carry these negotiations forward.

Some critics of the government feel that in the last eight months there has been no progress in the peace talks.

I do not agree with this point of view. The situation is a lot better than what it used to be before the cease fire came into operation. I was then the home secretary, so I should know. How many killings were there and what was the law and order situation in Nagaland? The cease fire has brought about a tremendous change in the state. Peace now prevails in the state. Of course, there are some problems in implementing the cease fire on the ground level. Of course it is true that the inter-group killings are still continuing.

Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir has said that these peace talks are fraud and they should be called off. Please comment.

Frankly speaking, the Nagaland chief minister Jamir should answer this question. But I think he is partially correct. But what part is correct is difficult to say. I think 35% of his statement is correct. I believe he is talking about the problems in implementing the peace agreements.

When is the next round of talks scheduled?

After the developments in Thailand, it is difficult to say when the talks would begin. We would wait for them to tell us when they are ready to talk.

Don't you think at some time or the other that you would have to involve other Naga groups in the peace talks?

Yes, there cannot be peace in Nagaland without the participation of other Naga groups. We would have to involve them. You are right.

Does the fact that we had such a long cease fire mean the NSCN is willing to give up violence?

Not necessarily. There was a cease fire for eight long years from 1964 to 1972. Yet there was no end to violence in the state. We can hope for the best and continue to strive for peace.

Where were the last two rounds of talks held? Was Muviash travelling on forged documents when he was arrested?

We know that the underground leaders have document problems while travelling. It is not fair for me to tell where the talks were held or what would be the next venue. Because it important to maintain secrecy while travelling. Not only their lives are at stake even my own life is at stake. After all we are dealing with underground leaders.

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