Those who said YES had this to say:
• Yes! As long as there is an impartial third party that has studied all factions and can promote an approach which will bring the parties to form a consensus. Politically already, all factions claim to fight for Naga independence. This is already a broad consensus, and along with this understanding must be made on different issues together. The involvement of NBCC, Naga Hoho, and others have not been good. They should stay away. Factions keep entrusting NBCC to lead the reconciliation, but NBCC says that it will not involve in politics, and yet NBCC is shouting for reconciliation. This is the problem because it has led to confusion among public. Political consensus can be made by a third party, not by NBCC.
• Now is the time for Nagas to build understanding. People are so fed up with factional fighting and killing. The factional rhetoric is so sickening, don’t the factions realize that people have become immune and indifferent to their propaganda. It is better to talk some sense about Naga freedom, rather than always condemning each other. When one Naga group calls the other group ‘Terrorist’, it also includes them. It is easy to just give up everything, but it does not lead anywhere, so now is the time for underground leaders to enter into issue-based consensus and fight the common enemy, not each other.
• Yes, they have to come together. How long can Nagas keep fighting each other, it is only hurting our cause for freedom. If Nagas cannot completely unite, then Nagas must have a political consensus. What other option is there. None, but to form a political consensus.
• So many efforts are gone to waste. Also there was lack of creative options. If the groups are not willing to unite, then at least the only way to move forward is for them to agree on a political consensus, because they all claim to be fighting for the same objective.
• If sovereignty is the aim of all groups, then sovereignty should be the basis for better understanding.
• Unity is a must in a long desired goal of the people, but the flow of factional blood has much widened.
• Yes, the time is coming to reveal the truth on who’s who in upholding the unique cause of the Nagas. Any Naga nationalist working without taking into considerations the pure democratic system of self-governing prior to British occupation in 1832, formation the Naga Club-1918, NNC-1946, FGN-1956, NPC/Nagaland State-19602, GoI-FGN Ceasefire-1964, NSCNs-1980/88 and subsequent ceasefires-1997/00 is immature, self-centered and unfit to serve the nation.
• Yes, because no group is absolutely right. Every group has committed wrong and yet the cause they represent is right. If they continue in this way they will all perish. They have no choice but to keep their pride aside and think for the nation. When they think for the nation, they will know that they have to formulate a common platform and keep aside their past differences.
• That Nagas are Nagas by blood and India is an occupying force should put some sense into their thick skull that they (National Workers) need each other to win the war for the Nagas. And that should form the basis for a better understanding amongst the so called factions. There is just one fight to fight and one war to win and nothing more and nothing less than sovereignty should be the slogan for each Naga and then we all have a common agenda to work with.
• Yes, because the slowly upcoming generation have better reasoning.
• Otherwise they are not Naga National Workers!!!!
• It’s a people’s movement. Naga people want all national workers irrespective of all parties concerned to come to a consensus to achieve Naga independence. No party can go against the wishes of the Naga people. At the end of the day one has to yield to the people’s voice for the ultimate power lies with the people. Kuknalim.
• Yes, based on national principles.
• Only if egocentricity and selfishness is done away with wider vision by turning “my vision” into “our vision”
Those who said NO had this to say:
• No way... please give me a break.... Naga national workers – the only thing they can do for us is give us false promises.
• No, with the level of ego, ignorance and lack of respect for wisdom and where people are unimportant and the individual selfish gain the only independence they seek, we can only expect more groups and factions and lesser understanding among the so called National Workers…. God, save us from ourselves!
• There is no reason why they should not but they will never. It has become just mirage fantasy for them to come together to a mutual understanding. The reason is, they (all the factions) no longer are guided by the vision and principle for which it was started. All of them function and are guided by the same-single objective: to control and terrorize the general public in the name of “fighting for national cause.” The fruits and results of this national cause are clearly seen in the new buildings coming up in all the towns, new cars and luxurious life. And if anybody questions their lifestyle, they are branded as “anti-national,” and are silenced. What more can you expect????
• No, because there is no unity and understanding among the workers.
• The leaders are selfish and hunger for power.
• I don’t think this can happen, unless the whole history of Nagas is erased in the air. The stains, wounds, are still hungry for the revenge of their brothers who were killed. Any consensus can be expected only within Nagas in Nagaland and not outside.
• Definitely no. When they themselves cannot reconcile then where do we expect to look for our progress. No consensus will come unless the leaders humble themselves for the common cause of our land.
• Majority of our national workers are not patriotic any more. Nowadays they symbolise extortions and wealth accumulation. They are not there for the Nagas any more rather the public is there for them. There is no way the factions will come together as if that happens their interests will be hampered.
• No, the Naga national workers can never agree as there is too much hatred towards each other; this can be seen from their article which is published in the local media. The only way forward is to let the people choose by the way of free election in every village and district. If only the national workers bow down to the people’s voice then perhaps we might see one united Naga party.
• No! The cause of factionalism and misunderstanding is: The incorrigible struggle for supremacy and egocentricity which is deeply rooted among the top leaders. They have deviated the armed struggle for freedom into a gangsters’ war – to dominate areas for extortion of taxes. Hence there’s no question of political consensus for better understanding but public can make them understand better by booking them for their unlawful activities. Nagas can fight for freedom politically without arms.
Those who said MAYBE had this to say:
• From hindsight, there is a ghost of a chance. History has taught us nothing. For posterity’s sake let us sink our differences and redirect our energies towards fulfilling that cherished desire for lasting peace, love and understanding.
• I am not sure as yet because I can’t really understand as to how far they have gone. Politics in Nagaland is altogether a different story with its ever changing implications. Hope it gets better as the days go on. “Better late than never.”
• Unless the theory of ‘I am totally right and others are completely wrong’ persists among the groups there is minus zero possibility of having a general agreement … “You can fool some of the people some of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” – Abraham Lincoln
