Naga talks must go on.

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Naga talks must go on, says Pilot

BY WASBIR HUSSAIN

Guwahati, May IS: A day after Union home minister Indrajit Oupta told
Parliament that the first-ever talks between an Indian Prime Minister
and Naga rebel leaders at Zurich in February has not yielded "anything
worlh while," one of New Delhi's chief peace mediators Rajesh Pilot has
said that the government must continue with its efforts to bring about a
negotiated settlement to the Naga insurgency problem, now that the
channel to hold talk have been opened.
Direct talks between former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr Issac
Chishi Swu and Mr Tbuingelong Muivah of , the National Socialist Council
of Nagaland were held at Zurich, Switzerland, on February 3.
The ground for this unprecedente ed meeting was prepared by former
internal security n-tinister Rajesh Pilot who had visited Bangkok for
exploratory talks with the Naga insurgent leaders as a special emissary
of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda.

Speaking to The Asian Age from New Delhi on Thursday, Mr Pilot said, "I
would not like to comment on the home minister's statement about the
outcome of the Zurich talks   but . the government in New Delhi must
take follow-up action to continue with the peace efforts and keep its
credibility intact."

Mr Pilot, who as internal security minister was Mt P.V. Narasimha Rao's
trouble-shooter for the northeast, said that the Naga rebel leadership
had earlier lost trust on the Indian government authorities due to lack
of follow-up actions on peace initiatives

"The direct channels that have been olpened, therefore, should not be
closed," he said. Calling upon the Naga insurgent Groups to shun
violence, 'open their hearts' and arive at a negotiated settlement to
their problems, Mr.Pilot said  he was ready to extend his services in
any meaningful peace effort in the region.

The entire nation is concerned  about the problems of the northeast,"
the former minister  of state for home added. The home minister, Mr
Indrajit Gupta's, statent in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday has cone as  a
surprise to everyone watching the progress Of the Naga peace efforts . 
Mr Gul)ta, referring  to the Gowda- NSCN (I-M) talks at  Zurich, not 
yield  " anything worthwile" as  the Naga	rebel leaders had refused to
give up their  demand for secession from India.	The former Prime
Minister had made it clear that the  United Front Government was
prepared to hold the unconditional talks to the rebal groups.

It is therefore , not in the fitness of things to scuttle the initiative
by stating that the talks have not yielded anythings. The most positve
development to have taken place in more than two decads is that the Naga
rebal chieftains held direct talks with Union leaders.
Mr. Gupta's statements was certainly ill-timed because the NSCN(IM)
leaders themselves have been quoted in resent news paper interviews as
saying that they have received indications from Mr. I K Gujral,s new
United Front government that it would continue with the peace initiative
launched by Mr. Deve Gowda.

The Asian Age News paper (16.May.1997)
New Delhi