Centre, NSCN(IM) talks fail over Muivah's visit

The talks lasting one-and-a-half-hour were held at Viswema village on the Nagaland-Manipur border between Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, Naga peace interlocutor R S Pande and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on one hand and Muivah and other senior NSCN(IM) leaders on the other.

After the talks, Pande told reporters that the Centre would continue parleys with "all concerned" to break the impasse caused by the Manipur government's objection to Muivah's visit to Somdal village in Senapati district.
"We have requested Muivah to wait till the situation becomes "congenial" in Manipur to undertake the visit because of security reasons," he said.

Senior NSCN(IM) functionary V S Atem on Wednesday made it clear that they will not wait for long and Muivah will go ahead with the visit if the Centre fails to break the stalemate soon.
"The whole situation is the creation of the Manipur government and Naga people are not responsible. It is up to the Centre to resolve the present situation. We will not wait for long. We will go ahead with our programme," Atem said.

Pande said they had conveyed to the NSCN(IM) about the decisions taken by the Manipur government on Tuesday on lifting of curfew at Mao gate, replacement of state police forces with central paramilitary forces and ex-gratia to the members of the families of two persons killed in the Mao gate police firing, to instill confidence among the people.
"We will continue discussion with all concerned like the Nagaland government, the Manipur government and civil society leaders to make the situation congenial for breaking the stalemate," Pande said.Meanwhile, seven Naga MLAs in Manipur on Wednesday re-submitted their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker N Budhichandra Singh in protest against the state government's opposition to Muivah's entry, Assembly sources said.

The sources said the seven MLAs -- M Thohri, Morung Mokunga, Awang Bour, Khasim Ruivah, W Keishing, Danny Shaiza and K Raina -- had earlier faxed their resignations to the Speaker, but they were not considered as they were faxed. Therefore, they have submitted them again.