The Hague, 27 July 2007 - After four decades of conflict, the representatives of the Indian government and Nagalim agreed to enter into ceasefire on 1 August 1997. The ceasefire was followed by many rounds of peace talks over the past ten years. While both Parties are yet to come to an agreement, the very fact that talks took place constituted a major step forward.

UNPO welcomes the ongoing round of peace talks resuming on 30 July 2007 between the Government of India and the representatives of the Naga People as an opportunity to put an end to this longstanding conflict.

UNPO resolutely invites both Parties to reach an agreement that will bring sustainable peace to the region while granting Naga People the means as well as the context to safeguard their culture, identity and fundamental rights.

The ceasefire is set to expire on 31 July 2007. Since an agreement is unlikely to be reached before this point, UNPO asks both Parties to prolong the truce and continue this dialogue through which progress has been made. Ten years of negotiations have brought both Parties much closer to a solution than have four decades of conflict.

UNPO has therefore appealed to Ms. Smt. Prathibha Patil, President of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Mr. Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isak Muivah, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General as well as numerous foreign embassies in India to:

Maintain a peaceful and stable negotiating climate and demonstrate their commitment to principles of democracy and non-violence by announcing an indefinite ceasefire upon the expiration of the present agreement;

Assure that Nagas are being granted their full range of human, civil, and political rights;

Commit to the principle of pacific settlement of disputes as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.