Centre offers ‘cultural flag’ for Nagaland

Delhi intensifies efforts to end deadlock, pledges protection for customary laws

The Government of India has stepped up its efforts to end the deadlock and take the ongoing Naga peace talks to a logical conclusion by proposing a fresh draft agreement to resolve the two contentious issues of a separate flag and constitution for Nagaland.

Indicating that the new draft agreement has proposed to recognise a “cultural flag” for Nagaland, besides giving constitutional sanctity to some of the Nagas’ customary laws, security sources said the Centre was of the view that there had been enough delay and it was time to settle for a pragmatic solution.

In this regard, the members of Nagaland’s core committee, comprising state legislators and ministers, on Wednesday met at the residence of Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima and discussed the new draft agreement. The meeting was also attended by deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton and former CM T.R. Zeliang. The members of the Core Committee are also due to meet the NSCN (I-M) leadership, which has convened an assembly of its collective leadership on May 31, to take a final call on the proposed new draft agreement and the peace talks.

The core committee’s meeting was significant as it was held after its top members met representatives of the Union home ministry in New Delhi.

The Centre is believed to have asked the core committee to take a call on signing of the peace accord. Asserting that there will be only one peace accord and all stakeholders have to come on board, the security sources said that the sentiment at the grassroots level was for an early accord.

In related development, NSCN (I-M) president Q. Tuccu has convened a meeting of the “Tatar” (members of the NSCN-IM national parliament and

◗ ASSERTING THAT there will be only one peace accord and all stakeholders have to come on board, sources said that the sentiment at the grassroots level was for an early accord

the national assembly) that will also be attended by senior members of the “Naga army” on May 31. Each “Naga region” as it is defined in the NSCN (I-M) organisational structure will also depute five members. The invitation for the meet was sent to, among others, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, members of the “collective leadership” and Speaker Tatar Hoho.

If the insiders in the NSCN (I-M) are to be believed, such meetings are called rarely. Prior to this, a 10-member NSCN (IM) delegation led by V.S. Atem had camped in New Delhi and held at least two rounds of talks with Union home ministry representative A.K. Mishra.