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General secretary of Naga rebel group Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), Thuingaleng Muivah left Nagaland for New Delhi on Thursday to participate in the next round of peace talks with the centre after staying over two months in the troubled North Eastern hill state.
Several top leaders of the NSCN-IM have accompanied Muivah to Delhi to participate in the next round of negotiation with the Centre. The peace process with the NSCN-IM had begun way back in 1997 after the group signed ceasefire pact with the government.
The NSCN-IM has already submitted a 30-point charter of demands to the government that includes demand for greater control over natural resources, a separate constitution and flag, joint control over army and defence and the controversial demand of a 'Greater Nagalim' or integration of all Naga inhabited area under a single administrative structure. In response the Government of India too submitted a set of counter-proposals to the outfit. Sources said the government has ruled out amalgamation of Naga inhabited areas in view of opposition from other states in region Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh -- having border with Nagaland.
During his two-month stay in Nagaland, Muivah tried to visit is ancestral village, Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur, a move which triggered firm opposition from the Manipur government though the centre had given nod to his visit.
After being prevented from entering Manipur, Muivah took to an extensive and whirlwind tour of various districts of Nagaland includinh Phek, Zunehboto, Wokha and Peren to talk to NGOs and people in general from various Naga tribes to know their views on the ongoing peace talks between NSCN-IM and the centre.
The NSCN-IM has been airing his unhappiness over "slow progress" of the peace process with the government of India that had begun in 1997.