A meeting of the Coordination Committee of Naga Civil Society (CCNCS) was held at Kohima on the 3rd of July 2010 to review and report-back to its constituent civil society organizations and to examine, whether the continuation of the Committee is required or not. On analyzing the circumstances under which the Committee was formed and the subsequent interventions it has made to restore normalcy in the back-drop of the May 6, 2010 Mao-Gate incident and the social unrest thereafter, the members present felt convinced and satisfied that it has “served the purpose for what it was formed”. Therefore, the CCNCS would like to say that this Committee stands dissolved with effect from the 4th of July 2010.
In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to inform the Naga public and all concerned well wishers and others too, some of the activities it has undertaken and to say that, not a day has passed without one thing or the other happening at every stage of the last 54 days of the “CCNCS in the service of our people in distress” and to thank every individual, sections of people and organizations for enabling us to carry out our responsibilities with support and co-operation. We also seek apologies if we have hurt the sentiments of any people or organizations while discharging our duties with the best of intentions and as necessitated by circumstances of prevailing situations which were beyond our control.
To further enlighten the public about some specific engagements besides the works it has already mentioned in the “Backgrounder of the present impasse” as released on the 26th of May 2010, we would like to mention a few of the followings:-
• On 17th May 2010, CCNCS visited Tahamzam (Senapati) area and met with leaders of the UNC, ANSAM, NWUM, and leaders of the Coordinating Committees that were set-up to collectively address the crisis enveloping the South Naga areas and to take first-hand account of the situation prevailing on the ground.
• On 19th May 2010, CCNCS went to Guwahati, Assam and interacted with leaders of PCPIA, Action Aid, MASS, Panos (South Asia), Academicians etc followed by meeting with Key leaders of NESO/AASU and lawyers on the 20th May morning.
• On 4th June 2010, CCNCS called on the Chief Minister of Nagaland and apprised him of the works carried out by CCNCS and to also convey gratitude for the appreciation and support extended to the CCNCS by the State Cabinet on the 18th of May 2010, which was very encouraging and a morale booster.
• On 5th June 2010, CCNCS went to Diphu, Assam and met with leaders of the Karbi Cultural Society, Women Organizations, and Academicians etc where some cultural affinity between Karbis and some Naga tribes were also identified in the course of the discussion.
• On 6th June 2010 a special Sunday service program was conducted by the CCNCS at Kisama, where the displaced Mao Naga women and children were camped with special thanks to the Dean of Students, OTS Dimapur and Faculty members of St. Joseph College, Jakhama, who led the congregation through sermons, prayers and bible readings. Thereafter, the entire displaced persons were escorted back to their villages at Kalinamai and Song Song respectively, followed by a very warm public reception accorded to the members of CCNCS by the Mao Naga community.
• On 7th June 2010, CCNCS again went and camped at Jorhat and proceeded to Moran in Sibsagar District, Assam and met with cross section of the Tai-Ahom leaders at the “Tai Studies Research Centre”, who came from various parts of Jorhat, Dibugarh and Sibsagar districts of Assam. The meeting with leaders of the Tai Royal Society, Head of institutions, women organizations, social activists and retired bureaucrats etc was a moving experience where a very strong feeling for developing a Tai-Naga Cultural Forum was proposed in a spirit of brother-sisterhood, where the more elderly persons advised both the people not to make border issues a problem but to rather keep “our hearts open” on all fronts to co-exist as fraternal neighbours.
• On 14th June 2010, CCNCS met Mr. R.S. Pandey, the Interlocutor of the Govt. of India on the Naga Peace Talks, Mr. G.K. Pillai, the Home Secretary and Mr. P. Chidambarm, the Home Minister of India at New Delhi.
• On 16th June 2010, CCNCS had an elaborate deliberation with some of Media people, both Print and Electronic at New Delhi, which could clarify some of the mis-reporting and the wrong projection of the Naga side of the story in the aftermath of the May 6 Mao-Gate incident.
• On 17th June 2010, CCNCS interacted with University teachers at the Delhi University Teachers Association Office and also with noted human rights activists, Mr.Gautum Navlakha.
• On 18th June 2010, CCNCS met Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the UPA led-Government at her residence at New Delhi, who gave a very patient hearing for about one hour. On the same day CCNCS representative along with Delhi NPMHR met leaders of the Campaign for Peace and Democracy group of Manipur.
Having said what we have to say, the CCNCS would like to acknowledge with our deepest gratitude to all those we have met and the support and active participation that were extended to us, where ever and whenever it was necessary. We once again thank the Government of Nagaland through the State Cabinet for the appreciation and support that was accorded to us not only in words but also for financially backing us in our Delhi trip. We also want to thank the media friends in Delhi, with whom we met and interacted, for covering our part of the story both in print and televisions, and others in different parts of India as well. We cannot mention all people and sources that have helped us financially and physically at different stages of our works for all kinds of reasons, but we have recorded in our hearts with prayers that God will repay all those kindness in many folds.
However, we would be failing in our part if we don’t mention our special gratitude to the people of Khuzama Village and the Southern Angami People’s Organization, the Kohima District Administration and all ranks and files of the Nagaland police who had been constantly monitoring and helping out in their various capacities and positions. We also make special mention to the local media, both print and electronic for constantly following and making reports in all appropriateness during the entire crisis. And most of all, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Mao Naga community, irrespective of their locations, for the sacrifices that they have made, as victims as well as victors and for the unceasing support, participation and understanding that they have demonstrated at all stages of the crisis and the patience they shown under all kinds of threats, intimidations and uncertainties.
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Neingulo Krome
Convenor, CCNCS.
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Rosemary Dzuvichu
Member Secretary, CCNCS
