Muivah meets PM, Chidambaram, talks peace

Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) resumed the dialogue process afresh on Tuesday, calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram before holding the first formal meeting with the new government interlocutor in Delhi.

Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) resumed the dialogue process afresh on Tuesday, calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram before holding the first formal meeting with the new government interlocutor in Delhi.

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At both meetings, Muivah is understood to have reiterated the NSCN (I-M) desire for a peaceful resolution to their proposals and the unique history and situation of the Nagas.

India is offering wide autonomy to Naga people as it has already rejected the demand for an independent homeland in northeastern India bordering Myanmar.

"We had a comprehensive discussion and the NSCN (I-M) will continue the negotiation with the government of India," Muivah told reporters after his meeting with Chidambaram that went on for over an hour.

NSCN (I-M) representatives, however, made clear that they would not compromise on their right to sovereignty.

Different factions of the militant outfit, however, are under pressure from the Naga civil society that wants to put an end to half a century of bloodshed.

Naga Hoho, the apex tribal council, welcomed the resumption of dialogue, saying it had given “momentum” to the Naga people.