VZCZCXRO7418
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN
DE RUEHCI #0516 3161124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 121124Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1267
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1130
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0444
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0446
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0277
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0277
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0037
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0188
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0213
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0107
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1554

UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000516 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR POL/AD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IN BM
SUBJECT: NO PROGRESS DURING LATEST ROUND OF TALKS ON NAGALAND 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  October 17-19 in Amsterdam, another round of 
talks between the Northeast Indian insurgent group National 
Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the GOI 
ended without progress.  The Indian delegation met the rebel 
leadership to discuss "substantive issues" as a follow-up to a 
list of demands the NSCN-IM presented in July 2006.  The 
NSCN-IM's key demand for unification of Naga-inhabited areas 
into a "Greater Nagaland" -- which would include 1.2 million 
Nagas living in the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal 
Pradesh as well -- has been opposed by the GOI.  Other NSCN-IM 
demands included unification of all Naga-inhabited areas in 
Northeast India, separate representation at the United Nations, 
and greater control over local natural resources, finance, 
defense and police.  GOI and the NSCN-IM have held more than 50 
rounds of peace talks since their 1997 ceasefire agreement, 
which expires in July 2007.  A resolution to one of India's 
oldest internal conflicts remains unlikely.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2. (U) From October 17-19 a GOI delegation, including Union 
Ministers Oscar Fernandes, S. Raghupathy, P. Chavan and chief 
interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah, met with NSCN-IM leaders in 
Amsterdam.  Earlier this year, at the July talks in Bangkok 
(when the ceasefire between GOI and NSCN-IM was extended for one 
year), both sides had discussed the limits of flexibility within 
the Indian constitution and whether a "sub-national 
constitution" was possible.  The NSCN-IM at that time proposed 
negotiating a federal relationship with India, through a 
mutually agreed settlement and a separate "Naga Constitution." 
The GOI held that the Indian constitution is flexible enough to 
accommodate regional diversities, similar to the way in which it 
incorporates a constitution for Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
¶3. (U) However, the parties remained at an impasse.  Speaking 
for the NCSN-IM's 'shadow government,' Deputy "Kilonser" 
(minister) for the "Kilo" (Home) Ministry V. Horam told the 
press that the Nagas proposed a "Federation of India and 
Nagalim" on the basis of a special relationship between the two 
parties.  This would mean having two separate constitutions. 
The NSCN-IM is unwilling to accept a solution within the 
parameters of the Indian constitution.  However, NSCN-IM 
spokesman K. Chawang said that in the Amsterdam talks, the GOI 
failed to express a clear stand on the NSCM-IM's demand for a 
special federal arrangement that allows self-governance to 
Nagas.  Chawang felt that this could jeopardize future peace 
initiatives.  General Secretary of the Naga Hoho (an apex body 
representing all Naga tribes) N. Krome told post that the 
NSCN-IM rejected the GOI's proposal for a solution within the 
Indian constitution and that the Amsterdam talks were 
inconclusive. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Complicating discussion with the Nagas is persistent 
internecine conflict between the NSCN-IM and its main rival, 
NSCN-Khaplang.  The GOI also has a ceasefire with NSCN-Khaplang 
but has not engaged in discussions with that faction.  On 
October 26, soon after the Amsterdam talks, fierce clashes 
between the two NSCN factions broke out in the Zunheboto 
district of Nagaland, reportedly resulting in three deaths. 
Some residents of the area had to vacate their homes to escape 
the violence.  The fighting was a clear violation of ceasefire 
rules that forbid NSCN members to carry arms outside their 
designated camps.  Observers have alleged that the Khaplang 
faction is tacitly backed by the Congress Party, whereas the 
NSCN-IM is supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its 
allies in the current Nagaland government. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment:  A resolution of the ongoing conflict is 
unlikely because the NSCN-IM appears unwilling to give ground on 
its demand for a separate and independent Nagaland.  There is no 
real incentive for either the GOI or the Nagas to seek a 
substantive accord - the Naga leadership is content to enjoy the 
benefits of rebel political leadership (foreign travel, titular 
prestige) and the GOI appears unwilling to expend the resources 
to take on the Nagas head-on through military operations.  Like 
India's other internal conflicts, the GOI seems to prefer 
letting insurgency drag on indefinitely instead of looking for a 
final resolution. 
JARDINE