On the occasion of ’23rd Naga Republic Day’, in a special message to the people of Nagaland NSCN (IM) chairman Issac Swu asks them to come as close as possible to arrive at a lasting peaceful solution.

 NSCN-(I-M) chairman Issac Chisi Swu said that the on-going peace talks with the Union Government had reached a crucial stage and it was time to take bold steps for a lasting solution to the decades-old Naga problem. “During the past five years, we are making a snail pace in that direction despite all the obstacles. But now the crucial stage has arrived for both sides to take bold steps to break through the hurdles to bring a lasting solution (to Naga problem)”, the chairman said in a message to the Naga people on the occasion of “23rd Naga Republic Day”. He, however, said the NSCN (I-M) understood the “difficulties” of the Union Government while carrying the current Naga peace process to its logical end, but expressed hope that New Delhi would realise the “uniqueness of Naga history”. “We told Indian leaders during talks that we are ready to understand the difficulties of India and come as close as possible provided they do understand the uniqueness of our history”, he said. He also stated that the Government, which had been dealing with the Naga issue as a mere law-and-order problem, ultimately sent the positive signals for political talks and thus the current peace process emerged.