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Syed Zarir Hussain in Guwahati
The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) rebels on Tuesday warned they might resume their separatist campaign following strong differences in peace talks with the Indian government in Amsterdam.
"We are preparing for any eventuality, including going back to the jungles, after Monday's talks failed," declared AZ Jami, steering committee secretary of the NSCN-IM.
"There will be one more round of talks next week with the Indian government to see if the ceasefire agreed upon can be saved from breaking down," he said.
Jami said, "The Indian government by backtracking on the ceasefire extension issue has violated the four-year-old pact."
He was referring to New Delhi's about-turn on a June 14 announcement that said the truce with the NSCN-IM would not be confined to Nagaland. This sparked fears in the region that New Delhi was planning to merge all Naga-inhabited areas of the northeast.
Violent protests in Manipur, where a large number of Nagas live, led to 19 deaths. The Indian government announced in late July that the ceasefire agreement would be confined to Nagaland.
Jami, a key member of the NSCN-IM's policy-making body, said, "It will be very unfortunate if we have to call off the ceasefire and go underground. For that the Indian government should be held responsible. We have sacrificed a lot and now we cannot compromise."
"We are for peace and want a solution but the Indian government seems to be adopting an insincere attitude. They need to change their mindset to pave the way for a permanent solution to the Nagaland problem," he said.
Indian government peace negotiator K Padmanabhaiah returned to New Delhi on Monday from Amsterdam after the NSCN-IM leaders demanded that the June 14 pact be honoured.
The NSCN-IM is spearheading a five-decade-old campaign for a separate homeland in Nagaland.
Indo-Asian News Service
ALSO SEE: Complete coverage of the Naga truce issue
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