India, Naga rebels begin fresh talks

Guwahati, October 17:

Indian peace negotiators are beginning fresh talks today in Amsterdam with a tribal separatist group of Nagaland amid threats by the rebels to break the nine-year-old ceasefire if New Delhi dithers on their demands.

Federal minister Oscar Fernandes and New Delhi’s main peace interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah will be meeting top leaders of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).

“This is another crucial round of negotiations and the three-day talks would discuss all substantive issues to solve the country’s oldest insurgency issue,” an Indian home ministry official said.

The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, warned of serious consequences if New Delhi failed to meet its demands.