The Khango Konyak-led NSCN (Khaplang) faction had accepted the conditions set by the Centre for resuming ceasefire, the Nagaland Gaon Burha Federation (NGBF) said in a statement on Thursday.
The NGBF said it had handed over the acceptance letter of the faction to the Centre in New Delhi for further discussions.
“The Khango-led group officially endorsed the NGBF to act as a mediator with the government of India for resuming the ceasefire during a meeting at Yankhao village in Mon district of Nagaland on October 25, at the earliest,” the statement said. At the meeting, the NGBF said Khango had acknowledged the Nagas’ appeal and decided to resume the ceasefire with the Centre.
The NGBF met the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks R.N. Ravi in New Delhi on November 1.
Following the mediation by the NGBF, the Centre and the Khango-led group reportedly agreed to begin the process of negotiation.
The NGBF appealed to the Centre to promptly respond to the peace offer and resume talks as soon as possible. It also urged all Naga political groups to unite and join the peace process for an early solution to the Naga issue.
The NGBF said the Khango-led NSCN (K) had placed a four-point demand to the Centre for consideration. It includes lifting of the ban imposed on the NSCN and removal of “terrorist” tag, rescinding the bounties placed on NSCN leaders, repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and Disturbed Areas Act in “Naga areas” and unconditional release of NSCN cadres who were arrested after abrogation of the ceasefire and are undergoing trial or serving sentences in prisons .
The Centre has issued a statement saying that the outfit walked away from the ceasefire in March 2015, but added that it welcomes the NSCN (K) for peace talks.
It said it had no objection to the NSCN (K) maintaining its entity. It declared that ban on NSCN (K), “terrorist” tag and bounties on its leaders would be automatically removed as soon as the NSCN (K) joins the peace process. The Centre, however, said it was committed to solving the Naga issue with one comprehensive solution and therefore cannot have many agreements.
