Nagaland News

NSCN (IM) pledge to continue peace talks
Posted on Monday, May 10 @ 02:07:35 EDT by

 DIMAPUR, May 08: Whether the BJP led NDA Government retains power at the Centre or a new one is formed the NSCN (IM) will keep the momentum of the peace talks...

to find an amicable solution to the decades old Naga political problem, says convenor of Ceasefire Monitoring Cell (NSCN-IM) Phumthing Shimrang.

In a telephonic conversation with The Sangai Express from Dimapur today the Convenor said NSCN (IM) is prepared to continue hold parleys with any Government at the Centre as solving the Naga problem rest above all priority of the underground organization.

To a question under which Indian leader would the outfit prefer to continue the peace dialogue Shimrang describing AB Vajpayee as very keen to address the Naga problem said there is no inhibition of holding talks with any Indian leader if they show interest in finding answer to the vexed political issue of the Nagas.

On date for commencement of the talks, he said the NSCN (IM) is waiting for the election process to be over to continue the talks no matter the Government is headed by the BJP, Congress or any other political coalition at the Centre.

Rejecting a question of whether the outfit had sponsored about five candidates in the North East States for the Lok Sabha elections, the Convenor said the allegation is an attempt to drag the organization into the Indian election while adding that large turnout of voters in Nagaland during the polls indicate the keen desire of the people to find political solution to the problem.

Contending that keeping the talks momentum is essential to arrive at a definite conclusion Shimrang said the ongoing talks is being held at the highest level with similar peace process also being pursued with concerned Indian officials at a third country.

As soon as the Indian election is over the organization would wait for invitation after constitution of a new Govt as the NSCN (IM) favors expediting process to solve the Naga problem, he reiterated.

It is pertinent to add that the second round of talks between the outfit and GoI proposed at New Delhi had to be postponed due to the Parliamentary elections

ICC to fund Asian cricket until 2007
May 10, 2004 01:12:00 PM
Islamabad, May 10 (PTI) Continuing with the promotion of the game in Asia, International Cricket Council has said that it would spend half of its development fund in the region in the next three years.
ICC president Ehsan Mani told the Asian Cricket Council's development seminar at Lahore yesterday that the world body had allocated over USD 100 million for development of cricket out of which USD 50 million would be spent in Asia.

"The recent series between India and Pakistan demonstrated the game's strength in the subcontinent," he was quoted as saying by 'The News' today.

The ICC president said the newest full member from Asia, Bangladesh, had faced a challenging time since its entry into Test cricket and the world body had been working closely with them and the ACC to assist the minnows.

"Besides, the programme is targeting improvement in the playing standards of its associate and affiliate members," he added.

The programme, he said, also helped ICC to increase the participation in the next World Cup to 16 countries. Last year's World Cup gave ICC an opportunity to assess the success of the development programme as Canada, Holland, Kenya and Namibia showed improved performances.

"The introduction of ICC Inter-continental Cup from this year provides 12 associate countries the exposure to international three-day cricket for the first time." Mani revealed that China would table applications for ACC and ICC membership later this year. PTI

The Sangaiexpress.com

TSE clarifies

As the Zomi Revolutionary Army has specifically mentioned the name of The Sangai Express with regard to the report published on May 9, we would like to clarify that the report was based on the press conference and what was said there at Churachandpur on May 8. However as the report had to be translated from Manipuri to English, certain unintended meanings crept into the sentences attributed to the UCM and Meitei Youth Organisation. This in turn directly implicated the name of the ZRA. Any confusion and misunderstanding caused by the report is deeply regretted.

— Editor