Rebels voice India talks fear

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC correspondent in Calcutta

Naga rebels say the peace process is threatened

The main faction of Naga tribal separatists negotiating with the Indian Government says that the peace process is in danger of being derailed.

A spokesman for the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) said the possibility that India, Burma and Bangladesh had a secret deal to launch joint military operations against a rival Naga rebel faction could undermine peace efforts.

The comments are surprising because for the last six years the rebels have been bitterly divided between the main NSCN faction, which is negotiating with the Indian Government, and the Khaplang faction which wants to be included in the talks.

Clashes between the two groups has left more than 500 guerrillas dead.

The NSCN spokesman said that any aggression against the Khaplang faction would be unacceptable.

We will not tolerate the unprovoked aggression against our Naga brothers in Burma NSCN spokesman

Last week the Indian army chief hinted that a joint offensive with Bangladesh and Burma against the Khaplang faction may soon take place.

Indian intelligence chiefs say that the Khaplang faction has more than 20 bases in Burma, and that the NSCN still maintains a few bases in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of eastern Bangladesh.

But Dhaka strongly denies this.

Military operations

On Monday, M Vero, chief of the Naga tribal parliament, also warned Burma and Bangladesh against launching joint military operations.

Mr Vero said that such action would undermine the atmosphere of peace that has been created by the ceasefire.

Analysts say the NSCN is upset with the slow pace of negotiations and India's reluctance to accede to their demand for a Greater Naga state incorporating all Naga-inhabited areas of northeast India.