Ban on NSCN-IM may finally go

‘‘The government has already decided that the ban will not be extended this time. Let’s hope all goes well because there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip,’’ the sources said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga travelled to Bangkok late last week to extend an invitation to Muivah and Swu on behalf of the Centre. He apparently assured the NSCN (IM) leadership that the Centre was ready to lift the ban. The ban had prevented Muivah and Swu from travelling to India.

The government, according to sources, was keen to take the peace process to its logical conclusion and break the long impasse. Throwing the ball in the government’s court, the Naga leaders said that they would keep their word if the Centre showed ‘‘sincerity’’ in resolving the issue.

The NSCN(IM), according to MHA sources, was willing to hold talks even in Europe if travelling to India was not possible.

‘‘But the Centre has realised the psychological edge it will have if the talks take place in India. So other conditions of NSCN(IM) are also likely to be agreed upon,’’ an official said.

Other demands of NSCN(IM) included quashing of arrest warrants against them and promise of safe passage to go back if the talks failed in India.

So far, three Prime Ministers — Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda and Vajpayee — had met the NSCN(IM) leadership in an effort to bring about a peaceful settlement.

Talks with them had been going on as per NSCN(IM) conditions — that they be held at the highest level, be unconditional and held outside India.

However, this time, there seemed hope with NSCN(IM) too having softened its hardline stand. Agency reports from Bangkok quoted Zoramthanga, on his third visit to the Thai capital, as saying he had been requested both by the Centre and the Naga leaders to be involved in the talks to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

Zoramthanga expressed the hope that the Naga peace talks would continue without any problem and ultimately culminate in the signing of an honourable settlement.