GUWAHATI, Dec 24: A Dutch negotiator has been appointed to help save an eight-year-old ceasefire between New Delhi and a separatist group in the northeastern state of Nagaland, a rebel leader said on Saturday.

Oscar Fernandes, a federal minister, and leader of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) formally nominated Michael C. van Walt van Praag from the Netherlands to mediate between the two sides last week in Bangkok.

“The talks in Bangkok were almost on the verge of collapse with the Indian government failing to respond positively to our demands,” said senior NSCN-IM leader Kraibo Chawang.

“Praag’s intervention helped in saving the peace process from breaking down,” Mr Chawang said.

The NSCN-IM and New Delhi entered into a ceasefire in Aug 1997, but the truce expires on Jan 31.

“Praag would be playing the role of a facilitator or a peace broker and he is expected to submit a list of independent proposals to resolve the problem in fresh talks next month,” Mr Chawang said.

“The proposals may not be acceptable to us or to the Indian government, but his impartial role we believe could bring in positive results and also help patching up differences between our group and New Delhi.” —AFP