From MVanwalt@aol.com

Thu May 18 11:16:19 2000

Message-ID: <1e.5633ee8.26550ebf@aol.com>

Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 05:15:43 EDT

Subject: Naga trial

Dear Olivier,

It was good to see you in Berlin, and I was happy that your idea was incorporated in the action plan. I hope you found the conference useful. I attach a couple of letters sent several months ago to the GOI and the GO Thailand. It will give you some background. The situation now is that Mr. Muivah's trial hearing will take place on 25 May. We believe that the Judge may be impressed and more leniant if there is international interest in the issue. In the first place it would be helpful to write to the Prime Minister of Thailand. But it would also be helpful to send an observer to the trial.

Do you have any members in that part of the world? Or any affiliated organisations? I may be going as well as my wife (I am not sure yet what organisation she will represent: she could also represent the Radical Party if you wish) and someone from UNPO may go. It is important that he be freed on bail, and that his sentence as short as possible. We will also need to find a third country that will provide him with a (temporary) residence permit.

Let me know your thoughts, Michael

Copy of letter from UNPO to GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

To the Prime Minister

Government of India.

Your Excellency,

the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) presents its compliments to the Government of India. I have the honour to write to you regarding the unfortunate arrest of Mr. Th. Muivah, General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim in Thailand several days ago.

As you may be aware, UNPO has for a number of years been following the events in Nagaland closely, and has encouraged the parties to the conflict to resolve their differences through political means, by negotiation. We believe that the decision taken by the Government of India to initiate dialogue and to negotiate a cease fire was the correct one. We have publicly praised India at the United Nations and elsewhere for this. We also are convinced that with patience and perseverance, negotiations between the NSCN and the Government of India can lead to a lasting solution which will bring peace and prosperity to the Naga people and their neighbours.

We are very much concerned now that the detention of Mr. Muivah could bring the process of dialogue, and therefore the peace process, to an end. The circumstances of his detention are not entirely clear, and we are not aware of the Government of India's stand on this matter. We would nevertheless urge Your Excellency to consider taking steps to request the Government of Thailand to release Mr. Muivah as soon as possible and to permit him to travel to a country of his choice, so that negotiations can indeed continue without undue delay.

Clearly, it is neither in the interest of India nor of the Naga people that armed hostilities resume. Yet a necessary condition for peace is the continuation of the negotiations process. We all know that Mr. Muivah's active participation in this process is essential. It is therefore of the greatest importance that he should be free to continue his important task of working with Your Excellency's Representative to work out mutually beneficial terms for lasting peace. I am sure that I need not remind Your Excellency of the immense impact which your intervention of Mr. Muivah's behalf would have in establishing the kind of trust that is so necessary for negotiations to be fruitful. It, indeed, could lead to a breakthrough.

Hoping this letter finds Your Excellency in good health and spirits,

I remain,

Yours Sincerely,

Erkin Alptekin

Interim General secretary

Copy of letter to THE THAI GOVERNMENT

TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Your Excellency,

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) presents its compliments to the Royal Government of Thailand. I have the honour to write to Your Excellency concerning the arrest of Mr. Th. Muivah, General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN).

Although the exact circumstances of the arrest of Mr. Muivah are not known to us, we understand that he was arrested and detained on charges of possession of false passport on 19 January. He was released on bail on 26 January. In accordance with an understanding with the police and the lawyer in charge of his case, Mr. Muivah was provided with another passport and taken to the airport to leave for a short trip to the Netherlands for a three day high level negotiation session with the representative of the Prime Minister of India. The object of the trip was not to jump bail, but to conduct negotiations of the utmost importantce in order to achieve peace in the war torn region of Nagaland. He was again deteained at the airport on January 26.

We are very concerned about his detention, because of the central role Mr. Muivah plays in the ongoing negotiations between the NSCN and the Government of India for a lasting political solution to the conflict between the two parties. Without him, the negotiations process is in jeopardy, and full scale fighting could resume.

As I am sure you are aware, the people of Nagaland have been involved in a bloody armed conflict with the forces of the Government of India for some fifty years. Several years ago, however, the Government of India took the wise decision to open talks with the NSCN leaders, and negotiations have been taking place at the highest level since then. A cease fire has been in place now for more than two years, and political talks have only just started in earnest. This peace process could be jeopardised now with the detention of Mr. Muivah, who heads the negotiation team of the NSCN in these talks.

We understand the need for the Government of Thailand to enforce its laws and to prevent illegal use of passports. At the same time, we believe this is an exceptional case of a man who had no other means of traveling, given the fact that he does not have official travel papers from his country. His task is so important in order to bring peace to his region, that I hope that Your Excellency can intervene in an appropriate manner to secure the early release of Mr. Muivah and to facilitate his departure for a country of his choice.

Please be assured that we will be pleased to be of assistance in any way possible in this process. We are aware of countries that would be willing to receive him, and are prepared to work with you to facilitate his early and quiet departure.

Thanking Your Excellency in anticipation,

I remain, Yours sincerely,

Erkin Alptekin

Interim General Secretary