New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Michael C. van Walt van Praag, the Dutch executive president of a Netherlands-based NGO, is the third party mediating in the peace talks between the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the Indian government since 2001.
Kreddha, the NGO, describes itself as committed to the "prevention and resolution of violent conflicts between population groups and states" and on its website says it "specialises in and limits its activities to intrastate conflicts".
The only Indian member on its council is Nirmala Deshpande, a former member of the Rajya Sabha and president of the Gandhian Harijan Sewak Sangh.
Praag himself is a former general secretary of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), a global umbrella body of groups seeking self-determination.
Kreddha's involvement in the Naga talks first came to light in December 2005, when Kraibo Chawang, the NSCN-IM's 'deputy information minister', said his group and New Delhi had agreed on "third party mediation", and that Praag was going to be the "pointsman".
At that time, even R.H. Raising, NSCN-IM's 'home minister', was quick to explain that Praag had been associated with the talks since 2001, but no decision had been taken officially yet to have him as a mediator.
"But I must tell you that he is a well-wisher of the Nagas and a good friend of both our group and the government of India," he explained then.
Highly placed officials said New Delhi has been reluctant on giving Praag a label in the 50 rounds of peace talks negotiations that the two sides have had aimed at ending one of South Asia's longest running insurgencies.
Even Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, who is one of the principal interlocutors in the negotiations, has acknowledged that Praag had been mediating unofficially since 2001.
Chawang has been quoted as saying that Praag's "contribution towards salvaging the peace process has been acknowledged by both" the NSCN-IM and New Delhi.
Kreddha further goes to say on its website, "We carry out our dialogue facilitation activities behind the scenes, often in a confidential manner, and don't publish, engage with the press or otherwise make public where and how we are involved or what is happening in a particular process, unless the parties so require."
"Confidentiality is not only a requirement by one of the parties in some of the processes Kreddha facilitates, it also gives the organisation's facilitators more freedom and access, and allows parties to be forthcoming in sharing their interests."