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Despite the earlier hiccups and the pressure of pulls and push from different directions, the peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) seems to be going ahead smoothly and this is certainly welcome given the fact that Nagaland has been hit by insurgency for the last five decades or so.
The decision of the Indian Government to allow the ban on the rebel group to lapse on November 26 and the withdrawal of all cases against Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu certainly helped in taking the peace talk forward and here is hoping that the proposed visit of Swu and Muivah to New Delhi to hold talks with the Prime Minister do not peter out without any substantive results.
From August 1, 1997 during the days of the United Front Government to 2002 with the BJP led NDA Government at the Center, the peace process has seen its ups and downs and though five years is a long time by any standard it is heartening to note that both sides appear keen to thrash out a solution and allow the people of Nagaland to enjoy the fruits of peace and tranquility. Even as the NSCN (IM) leadership is poised to visit Delhi anytime now, the big question is, now what?
Will it result in the talk moving ahead in the desired direction or will it be reduced to just another round of talk. Hopefully the talk with the Prime Minister and the other BJP leaders at New Delhi should prove more positive than the earlier talks held with the Center’s emissary for the Naga rebel group has more than made it clear that they favor a talk with the political leadership and not with some hand picked retired bureaucrats.
To the Nagas who are predominantly Christians, the month of December is a special month for it is not only about Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ but is also the time to enjoy the fruits of one year's labor - the harvest. To many Naga families it is also the time for all its members to come together and celebrate Christmas which goes on till New Year. Every village and towns where the Naga people live wear a festive look during this period and it is fitting that Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah should come to India to further the peace talks at this time of the year.
And if anything substantive comes about, then perhaps that would be the best Christmas gift for the Naga people who have been living under the threat of the gun for the last fifty years or so. And of course the best Christmas gift should not come at the cost of others. This is what the Centre should keep in mind while chalking out a solution with the Naga rebel group. The memories of the June 18 uprising in 2001 and the days that followed are still fresh in the minds of the people and surely Atal Behari Vajpayee and LK Advani and of course Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu would not want a solution which will give rise to many other problems.
We are of the firm opinion that any solution to the Naga people should not infringe on the aspirations of the other people of the North East region. In finding a solution to the Naga issue there should be no room for any appeasement policy.
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