Wednesday, May 11 2005 21:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dimapur: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM), today (May 11, 2005) asserted that the Nagas were ready to fight for another 50 years unless New Delhi recognised the historical rights of the people to live together as a "nation".

"We told the Government of India in no uncertain terms of our rights and historical position time and again. There cannot be any compromise on Naga integration. We had fought for 50 years and are ready to wait for another 50 years till our goal is achieved,"

NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah told newsmen at the council headquarters 'Camp Hebron', 40 km south of Dimapur. When asked about the main stumbling block in agreeing to the set of proposals placed before the Centre, Muivah, the chief negotiator, accused New Delhi of backing neighbouring States, which were opposed to redrawing of State boundaries while resolving the Naga conflict.

"Why should Manipur, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh decide the future of Nagas? Only Nagas have rights to decide their fate and future," Muivah asserted, saying, "We cannot compromise on integration."

When asked on which areas both sides had agreed so far during the last several rounds of talks in New Delhi and what he meant by "federal relations with India", Muivah skirted a direct reply, saying, "It is too early to disclose all these details." He, however, said that the subject of security would remain with the Government of India.

Muivah said that he was "not disappointed" over the slow pace of talks with the Group of Ministers during the past three months. Asking the people to be prepared for the worst in the event of failure of the peace process, the NSCN-IM leader asserted that if the Government of India was sincere enough and showed political will, it could resolve the Naga conflict amicably, by arriving at a logical conclusion.

''We have made clear our stand and position, now the ball is in their court,'' Muivah said, adding that he did not know about the timing of future talks. When asked, he said that so far the NSCN-IM had not fixed any deadline with the Centre to wind up the talks, but did not rule out a timeframe to find an honourable settlement to the Naga political problem.

After a series of talks since February, Muivah who arrived Dimapur yesterday (May 10, 2005) to hold consultations with the Naga people on future strategy, said that he felt it was his duty to inform Nagas about the progress in the dialogue as well as the difficulties because they had 'mandated' the NSCN-IM to carry forward the negotiation process through a four-point resolution last January.

After arriving from Delhi, Muivah held consultative meetings with representatives of Naga civil society groups, tribal councils, NGOs and senior functionaries of the outfit at Camp Hebron yesterday night, NSCN-IM sources said.