Another round of Naga talks in Bangkok today

With the Centre determined to bring a semblance of peace in the North-East, interlocutor for the Naga talks, K. Padmanabhaiah, is set to fly...

With the Centre determined to bring a semblance of peace in the North-East, interlocutor for the Naga talks, K. Padmanabhaiah, is set to fly to Bangkok tomorrow to meet NSCN I-M insurgent leaders.

After giving a clean chit to the Naga underground group for the October 2 Dimapur blasts, the Government is keen to take the dialogue process forward so that peace is restored in the norteastern region. The talks with the NSCN I-M have been stuck over the issue of 8216;Nagalim8217; or Greater Nagaland.

The Centre is also considering inviting NSCN leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah to India. This was also endorsed by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who today said that with the change in government at the Centre, the NSCN insurgents should be extended an invitation to come to India and meet the new leadership.

Rio also sought a role for himself in the peace process by saying that he favoured 8216;8216;direct talks8217;8217; between the state and the insurgent group as it was Nagaland that had suffered 50 years of insurgency.

8216;8216;Those the talks can take place in Bangkok or wherever,8217;8217; Rio said, adding that he had made this suggestion to Home Minister Shivraj Patil during his meeting with him today. Patil, he said, was receptive to the idea.

Hoping to meet the NSCN I-M leaders in Bangkok soon, the Nagaland Chief Minister said that he wanted an early settlement and 8216;8216;things are moving fast8217;8217;. Sources, however, said that there was no move yet for a meeting between the state leadership and the Naga insurgents.

8216;8216;Nobody from the state government is going with Padmanabhaiah this time. In all likelihood, the Director of Intelligence Bureau, A.K. Doval, will be accompanying him,8217;8217; sources in the Home Ministry disclosed today.

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When asked whether he favoured direct talks with Swu and Muivah or in the presence of the Centre8217;s pointsman, Rio said that his role would only be that of a facilitator. 8216;8216;It is not the right time to go into the details,8217;8217; he added.

The Nagaland Chief Minister also briefed the Home Minister about the ongoing investigations into the recent Dimapur blasts and said that it appeared to be the handiwork of the ISI or the ULFA.

Rio said that the involvement of the Naga underground group had been ruled out. According to sources, the insurgents were assisting the state in the blasts8217; probe.