NEW DELHI, 4 March 2007 — In an attempt to find lasting peace in the northeastern state of Nagaland, a crucial round of talks was held here yesterday. Union Labor Minister Oscar Fernandes led a group of Indian ministers, K. Padmanabhaiah being New Delhi’s main peace interlocutor. The Naga rebel group Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland: Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) was headed by Thuingaleng Muivah. Michael C. Van Walt Van Praag from Netherlands was the “third party mediator.”
Indian negotiators included Minister of State for Home S. Regupathy and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan. The two sides earlier met in Amsterdam last December.
Since the cease-fire in 1997, the two sides have held at least 50 rounds of talks.
