GUWAHATI, Jan 20 - No major issue is left to negotiate between the Government of India and armed groups of Nagaland and the ball is now in the court of the rebel groups as they need to sort-out some minor issues to pave the way for signing of the peace accord.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that negotiation between the Naga rebel groups and the Government is complete and only the accord is left to be signed. It may be mentioned here that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), an umbrella body of seven Naga rebel groups, are negotiating with the Government of India.
Sources said that as part of the agreement reached between the Government and the rebel groups, two autonomous councils would be set up in the Naga inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Nagaland will have one more Lok Sabha seat and the Government will take effective steps for the rehabilitation of the members of the rebel groups.
Sources said that though there was a demand for cultural integration of the Naga inhabited areas, that has been rejected as a large section of people of Nagaland is opposed to it. Moreover, the demand for a separate constitution and flag for Nagaland has been rejected. Sources said that the Centre�s interlocutor for Naga talks, RN Ravi, who is now the Governor of Nagaland, had detailed talks with the Naga civil society groups to ensure that the political solution of the Naga problem is an �inclusive one�. The Governments of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were also consulted.
On the issues holding up the signing of the formal agreement, sources said that the Government has been talking with the NSCN (I-M) and NNPG separately.
Now they have to come together for the signing of the agreement as there will be only one agreement. The second major issue is that a few hundred cadres of NSCN (I-M) are still in Myanmar and they would have to be brought back to India before the signing of the Accord so that they also surrender along with the other cadres.
The third major issue is that some members including senior cadres of the NSCN(I-M) are involved in unlawful activities. A few were even reportedly involved in supply of weapons to criminal gangs in other parts of the country and some are running car lifting rackets. This is not acceptable for the Government of India and that has been informed to the leaders of the rebel group.
