New interlocutor for talks with NSCN (IM)
February 11th, 2010 - 5:59 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The government Thursday appointed former petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey as its new interlocutor to facilitate dialogue with the major insurgent outfit, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).
Pandey has been chosen for the assignment as he has served as chief secretary in Nagaland and is said to have a good grasp of the issues that have led to the long spell of insurgency in this north-eastern border state, government officials said.
The deadlocked peace talks between New Delhi and the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN will resume in April after more than a year.
The last round of peace talks between the central government and the frontline Naga separatist group was held in March 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland. It ended in a stalemate.
The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, had entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in August 1997.
K. Padmanabhaiah, a former home secretary, had served as interlocutor for talks with NSCN-IM for a decade.
He was first appointed as interlocutor for Naga talks in July 1999 for one year but kept getting extensions.
Last year, the government chose not to extend his term and instead decided it would hold direct negotiations with the rebels to find a lasting solution to the vexed issue of insurgency in Nagaland.
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- NSCN status sparks row in India's northeast - Nov 18, 2011
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- Govt. wishes "an honourable negotiated settlement" from talks with NSCN (IM) team - Mar 03, 2010
- Naga leaders meet Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram (Lead) - Mar 02, 2010
- Naga separatists, government 'narrow down' differences - Jul 18, 2011
- Government of India not in favour of 'Greater Nagaland' - Mar 02, 2010
- No breakdown in talks with Naga group: Interlocutor Pandey - Jul 29, 2010
- Naga leaders agree for 'mutually acceptable' settlement with Centre - Jan 24, 2011
- Rebel Naga group ousts its chief - Jun 08, 2011
- Naga leaders meet Manmohan Singh - Mar 02, 2010
- Nagas take part in rally to support peace talks - Mar 03, 2010
Tags: august 1997, border state, ceasefire, central government, chief secretary, chishi, eastern border, guerrilla leaders, home secretary, indian government, interlocutor, isak, national socialist council of nagaland, nscn, peace talks, separatist group, stalemate, state government officials, swu, zurich switzerland
