There is concern over the fate of the Naga reconciliation process currently on under the initiative of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). By what is being put out in the media both by the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation and also the FNR, things are obviously not going as expected, although it is also to the credit of the process that much has been achieved. It will be foolish now to throw away everything. That will be a tragedy and a monumental blunder for which Nagas may have to wait another millennium to get what is rightfully ours. This is simply a straight forward question of now or never. Nagas cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity knocking at our doors. To achieve Nagas rightful place under the Sun, the reconciliation process must move up higher to the next stage, which is unfortunately not happening. To be fair to the players i.e. the national groups, neither the Naga public nor the FNR should also expect a sudden turnaround after years of animosity, distrust, suspicion and anger. The question therefore is whether enough time has been given and efforts put in to let the healing process take place. Having said that, the facts also speak for themselves: it is on record that 36 months have gone by, several public commitments made, numerous resolutions and declarations signed besides several rounds of peace summits most notably the Chiangmai process has taken place. At home also the journey of common hope has been showcased among the Naga people as a harbinger of peace, unity and change.
The back to back statements put out by the FNR on Sunday and Monday is indicative of the worry that the fragile reconciliation process may in fact breakdown. The FNR has therefore done the right thing by putting the three signatories—NSCN/GPRN, GPRN/NSCN and FGN—on notice and also cautioning them that “those who opt out of Naga reconciliation will be answerable to the people”. The three signatories have also from time to time affirmed their support for the reconciliation process under the FNR. So what then could be the problem? And what is the way out. This has become vital questions for all of us to find the answer to and work out the problems. Problem solving is what is needed at this current juncture even before we can talk of the Highest Level Talk. The FNR should call for an urgent meeting with the Joint Working Group (JWG). All issues, problems and misunderstanding must be brought to the table and thrashed out. This is in the overall interest of the Nagas. We need to save the reconciliation process at all cost.
Coming to the important question of problem solving, many of the solutions can be found in the short homily ‘Resentments—An Antidote for us’ written by FNR Convenor Wati Aier and which was also highlighted in the local media. The Naga political groups should seriously ponder over what has been mentioned by the FNR Convenor—about our peculiarity of “harboring of resentments” which leads to “hate, anger, bitterness and rage” against each other. Nagas are becoming the “victim of one’s own making. Hopefully the latest statement from the FNR will be a good reminder to the signatories of the need to safeguard the reconciliation process. As rightly stated by the FNR, “because Nagas have problems within us, we must sit and talk”.
The back to back statements put out by the FNR on Sunday and Monday is indicative of the worry that the fragile reconciliation process may in fact breakdown. The FNR has therefore done the right thing by putting the three signatories—NSCN/GPRN, GPRN/NSCN and FGN—on notice and also cautioning them that “those who opt out of Naga reconciliation will be answerable to the people”. The three signatories have also from time to time affirmed their support for the reconciliation process under the FNR. So what then could be the problem? And what is the way out. This has become vital questions for all of us to find the answer to and work out the problems. Problem solving is what is needed at this current juncture even before we can talk of the Highest Level Talk. The FNR should call for an urgent meeting with the Joint Working Group (JWG). All issues, problems and misunderstanding must be brought to the table and thrashed out. This is in the overall interest of the Nagas. We need to save the reconciliation process at all cost.
Coming to the important question of problem solving, many of the solutions can be found in the short homily ‘Resentments—An Antidote for us’ written by FNR Convenor Wati Aier and which was also highlighted in the local media. The Naga political groups should seriously ponder over what has been mentioned by the FNR Convenor—about our peculiarity of “harboring of resentments” which leads to “hate, anger, bitterness and rage” against each other. Nagas are becoming the “victim of one’s own making. Hopefully the latest statement from the FNR will be a good reminder to the signatories of the need to safeguard the reconciliation process. As rightly stated by the FNR, “because Nagas have problems within us, we must sit and talk”.
