Nagaland MLAs asked to create consensus on peace accord

Naga peace talks interlocutor R.N. Ravi has requested all the 60 MLAs of Nagaland to go to their respective constituencies and build a consensus on the peace accord inked between the central government and the NSCN-IM, a Nagaland assembly source said on Saturday.

According to the source, who is also an MLA, peace talks interlocutor Ravi made the appeal during his three-day visit ot Nagaland. The visit ended on Friday.

"Though during the meeting with Ravi the frame work of the Naga Peace Accord was discussed but a clear direction came from the interlocutor for the MLAs to go to their respective constituencies and make consensus regarding the deal. If not done, then the accord cannot be a success," said the source.

The source said Ravi will soon visit the state again and hold a special meeting with the other factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland except the NSCN-K to know about their apprehensions about the accord.

He said the legislators have been given directions to create "hype" regarding the accord.

"People in Nagaland's several pockets are influenced by other factions of NSCN, who do not have faith in the accord. So this step is being taken to tackle such problems and lets see how well does it work," he said.

National Socialist Council of Nagaland has several factions including NSCN-(Isak-Muivah), NSCN-(Khaplang), NSCN-(Unification), NSCN-(Reformation) and NSCN-(Khole-Kitovi). Apart from that there also exists the oldest of all groups -- the Naga National Council (NNC).

As NSCN-K has abrogated the 14-year-old ceasefire, so the government, as of now, is not holding talks with them.

He said though no time frame has been given for building the consensus, the work is expected to be completed before the re-visit of Ravi.

Ravi, who arrived at Nagaland's capital Kohima on Wednesday, held several meetings with the stakeholders of the Naga peace talks, including Governor P.B. Acharya, civil society groups and the Naga legislators.

The president of a Naga civil society group, who also declined to be named, said: "It's not a question of faith. There is a lot of confusion among people of Nagaland regarding the Naga Accord. Until the main content of it is revealed, attempts are being made to build a consensus among the people of the state."

Sceptical of the success of the accord, he said people can have complete trust only after the final agreement is signed between the government and the NSCN forces, which is likely to happen at the end of this year.