Guwahati, May 14: The NSCN (Isak-Muivah)’s desperation for international support recently took it to a conclave of British parliamentarians.

Senior NSCN (I-M) functionary Rh. Raising raised the Naga issue at the inaugural conference of the British Parliamentarians for Self-determination in London and sought the UK government’s “intervention” in the “Indo-Naga impasse”.

Delhi’s envoys are sharpening their diplomatic tools for another round of talks with the outfit, beginning Thursday.

The Naga issue has drawn British attention ever since A.Z. Phizo, who started the movement, took shelter in Britain. Phizo’s daughter, Adino Phizo, still runs her organisation, the Naga National Council, from England. But this is the first time that the issue has been raised at a major British forum.

Highlighting the genesis of the Naga problem, Raising said the British had “moral responsibility” to ensure “justice is done to the Nagas.”

“We feel that the Nagas are the innocent victims of the British intentional silence on the Indo-Naga issue. I, on behalf of the Naga people and Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim, would like to appeal to the British people and their government in particular and the world community in general to help solve the problem,” Raising told the conference last Thursday.

“The Naga people have become restive and impatient, waiting for almost a decade for a positive response from the Government of India. At this crucial juncture, we strongly feel the need for a third-party mediation,” said the former kilo kilonser (home minister) of the NSCN (IM).

He alleged that there was no “tangible response” from New Delhi on several points which his organisation had tabled as “substantive issues” for solution.

While Raising tried to win over British parliamentarians, at home, an eight-member delegation from Nagaland, tested the pre-talks waters in Delhi.

The delegation, including minister Thenucho, today met Union home minister Shivraj Patil and urged him to expedite the peace process in the northeastern state. They later called on Union minister Oscar Fernandez, law minister H.R. Bhardwaj and interlocutor K. Padmanabhiah.