NSCN (IM) claims it has people's mandate to hold peace talks

Taking strong exception to its rival's assertions on the proposed peace talks between Naga leaders and the Centre, NSCN (IM) on Sunday claimed that it had the "unequivocal mandate" of the people to hold political dialogue on their behalf.

Taking strong exception to its rival's assertions on the proposed peace talks between Naga leaders and the Centre, NSCN (IM) on Sunday claimed that it had the "unequivocal mandate" of the people to hold political dialogue on their behalf.

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Dismissing the recent statement of its rival NSCN (K) on peace parleys as "unwarranted and misleading", the NSCN (IM) said it had been holding talks with the Government of India since 1997 as a single entity representing the entire Naga group.

Led by its General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, the NSCN (IM) leaders who arrived in New Delhi last night, will resume the stalled peace talks this week to carry forward the process for finding a settlement to the vexed political conflict.

In a statement issues in Kohima, the outfit said the NSCN (IM) had already conducted four to five rounds of consultative meetings with representatives of various Naga tribes on the ongoing peace process.

During such a discussion at its headquarters 'Camp Hebron' in January 2005, the Naga people gave "unequivocal mandate" to the outfit to carry on the political dialogue with the Government of India more actively to clinch an honourable settlement for all the Nagas and the Nagalim at the earliest, the statement claimed.