GENEVA, AUGUST 14: Two key National Socialist Council of Nagaland leaders have said there is a ``crisis of confidence'' in their talks with India which could seriously ``jeopardise'' the three-month ceasefire in Nagaland that came into effect earlier this month.

``We have faith in the Prime Minister but we do not trust the Home Minister who is trying to divide us... let it be clear that unless there is genuine goodwill, we cannot guarantee anything,'' Isak Chisi Swu, Chairman of the NSCN told The Indian Express in an interview here.

``We have no demands from India because we do not belong to India... but the biggest problem now is one of confidence, and the activities of the Indian Army in Nagaland is making it difficult for us to believe in the proposed peace talks between our two countries,'' he added. The next round of talks with India has been scheduled, but the NSCN leaders did not say where or when it would take place.

Isak Chwisi Swu and Thuingakleng Muivah (the latter's visiting card says he is the Prime Minister of the Nagaland and has an address in Thailand) are currently in Geneva, lobbying support for their cause at the United Nations sub-commission for human rights.

Seeking what they say is ``good neighbourly relations with India,'' the two leaders informed the UN about the status of their contacts with India, including what they expect to happen within the next few weeks. They said they wanted talks with India to be at the Prime Ministerial level, unconditional and outside India, preferably in Europe.

``So far we have not discussed anything substantive with India and we don't expect India to make any proposal because we know they will begin by telling us we are a part of them, a position we have never accepted and will never accept,'' Muivah said.

He added that the talks have so far focussed only on the modalities of the ceasefire. Asked what they proposed to put forward when substantive negotiations commence, Muivah said, ``We cannot be within the Indian Union..., the rest we shall see but the very fact that India says it wants a non-military solution is indication that at least at the top level, they are willing to talk to us.''

Pressed to indicate what might be the meeting point between their stand and India's that is diametrically opposed, Muivah said, ``That is the problem, but we think a peaceful solution is possible... so far India has been telling us they will approach our problems at the right time, but we cannot wait endlessly.''

Both leaders say they and their supporters in Nagaland trace their origins to China which until recently, was helping them ``politically, morally and militarily.'' Now, mindful of good relations with India, China has stopped assisting them. Individual contributions from Nagas in Nagaland is, according to them, their main source of income now.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.