Kohima, Jan. 11: The NSCN (I-M) leaders today pleaded with a delegation of the North East Students? Organisation (Neso) ?to understand the historical facts of the Nagas? and the community?s right to live under a single administrative unit.

Barring representatives from Manipur, members of all the units of the students? organisation, led by its president Samujjal Bhattacharyya, met the NSCN (I-M) president Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah at the outfit?s headquarters, Hebron, near Dimapur.

The NSCN (I-M) invited the Neso delegation last week for a discussion. ?The students from Assam, Garo and Khasi hills of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh patiently listened (to the two leaders). The Assam students said problems in the Northeast were similar and the NSCN could take a lead in resolving them,? said Achumbemo Kikon, president of the Naga Students? Federation.

On the thorny issue of Manipur, the NSCN (I-M) leadership as well as the Neso representatives adopted a cautious approach. Kikon said he did not know why students from Manipur did not participate at the meeting.

Manipur has witnessed violent demonstrations in the past against the NSCN (I-M)?s concept of a Nagalim or Greater Nagaland, which embraces the state?s Naga-inhabited hill districts of Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati and parts of Arun-achal Pradesh and Assam.

The NSCN (I-M)?s demand for the integration of all Naga-inhabited areas got a boost on December 30 last year when 11 legislators from Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh met the outfit?s top leadership.

Though Naga legislators from Manipur had not met the militant leaders, tribal hohos from the state were known to have supported the outfit?s demand. ?There?s still time and they (MLAs from Manipur) are in touch,? Naga Hoho general secretary John Murry said. Naga legislators from the neighbouring state are likely to meet Swu and Muivah before the two leaders leave for Delhi.