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The Rediff Interview/Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

In an exclusive interview with Special Correspondent Onkar Singh, Zoramthanga said he was hopeful that peace would come to Nagaland just as it did in Mizoram in 1986.

Is it true that the Government of India decided to use your services to talk to the Naga leaders because you were once an insurgent yourself and know the psyche of the underground leaders better than other negotiators?

The Nagaland peace talks have been going on for some time. This problem has to be sorted out.

The government and the NSCN both requested me to intervene and make the atmosphere more conducive for talks between the two parties. I told them I would not like to be an uninvited intruder. If they wanted my services then it was at the disposal of the GoI and NSCN for initiating the peace talks.

I stepped into the picture only after I received a formal invitation from both parties. That is why I ventured into this mission. I must, however, make it very clear that I am not an emissary of the Government of India. I am here only as a friend of both parties to pave the way for the commencement of peace talks.

Yes, because I was an insurgent in the distant past, I can understand the psyche of the NSCN better than others. This is true and may have been one of the factors in the minds of both parties when they asked for my services.

When did the GoI approach you to talk to the NSCN leadership?

It would be difficult to mention any particular day. We have been discussing the Nagaland problems with Prime Minister Vajpayee and Home Minister Advaniji. At one point of time they felt the time had come to arrange a meeting between the NSCN and myself so that I could talk to the Naga insurgent leaders.

How many times have you met T Muivah and what does he say about the talks?

I met the NSCN leaders, Mr Muivah and the others, thrice in Bangkok. Each meeting lasted over four hours and we discussed the Naga problem in detail.

'Yes, because I was an insurgent in the distant past, I can understand the psyche of the NSCN better than others.'

What does Muivah want?

Muivah told me he wants to have serious negotiations with the GoI. From the talks I could gather that he was serious about achieving peace in Nagaland. I told him if he was serious then the GoI was also serious about solving the Naga insurgency.

But because of the lack of communication between the two parties there was some serious misunderstanding between the GoI and NSCN. I have noticed that the two parties now want to achieve peace in Nagaland and that is a positive sign.

Is he angry because he was arrested in Thailand earlier this year because of fake travel documents?

No, he did not say a word about the incident. In fact this incident never came up for discussions at all. This issue is between the government of Thailand and Muivah.

Is it true he was not happy with the way former Union home secretary K Padmanabhaiah conducted the talks?

Muivah did not say anything about this. But he and his deputy did mention that there was lack of communication between the GoI negotiator and them. But they hope this would be a thing of the past and they would be able to talk under better and more conducive circumstances.

What is your impression? Is peace going to return to Nagaland?

Yes, I am hopeful. In due course of time peace will return to Nagaland just as it did in Mizoram fifteen years ago. I am optimistic that the talks would be held between the NSCN and the GoI in a more positive manner than ever before.

Do you see any parallel between the peace negotiations between the MNF and the GoI that were held for almost a decade between 1970 and 1986, and now between the GoI and Naga underground leaders?

We understand the psyche of the underground leaders much better that anyone else. In fact, we understand them better on many other counts as well. The actual side of the Nagas and the MNF may be different, but the procedural side is almost the same. Yes, you can draw parallels between the peace negotiations held between the GoI and the MNF and the GoI and Naga underground leaders.

Does he say anything about a greater Nagaland?

No, we did not mention this word during our talks. My role is to bring them to the negotiating table. This issue has to be decided by the GoI while holding talks with the Naga underground leaders.

When do you think the two parties will talk face to face?

I have given my report to the prime minister and home minister. They have to decide when to make the next move. They have to come up with concrete proposals. The NSCN will have to respond to those proposals. I am sure the NSCN will respond positively to the government's proposals.

So you are hopeful that peace will return to Nagland?

I am hopeful that peace will return to Nagaland even though I know how difficult it is to bring the insurgents to the negotiating able and achieve peace through talks. In politics everything is possible, provided we have a good understanding between the two parties.

What does Prime Minister Vajpayee say?

Prime Minister Vajpayee is very co-operative. He is very serious about making these peace negotiations a success.

Has the prime minister given you a free hand to talk to the Naga leaders?

Yes, he has given me a free hand. But I must repeat that I am neither an emissary or a representative of the Government of India. I am the chief minister of Mizoram and I cannot be available to hold talks all the time. This is a full time job and the GoI should appoint someone to do the talking to the Naga leaders.

A time will come when politicians at the Centre or ministers in the Union Cabinet will have to take over the negotiations. There will come a time when the home minister himself will have to take over the negotiations. I can only pave the way for face to face talks.

Even in the case of talks with the MNF the same procedure had been followed. The home minister of India had stepped into the picture to facilitate the talks. The time has come when peace should and must return to Nagaland and the northeast.

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