Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | December 8
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has mooted a ‘fellowship gathering’ for leaders of the warring underground factions as the initial step towards ‘healing and reconciliation’ amongst them.
Rev Kari Longchar, Director, NBCC Peace Mission, said the fellowship gathering will consist of a ‘face to face’ meeting of various factional leaders, handshakes and offering prayers together.
“At the initial stage we will carry out the healing and reconciliation process without bringing in any political talks, but only a fellowship get-together of the factions leaders”, Rev. Kari said.
This meeting, it was informed will provide the leaders of the warring Naga workers an opportunity to listen to each other, admit one’s mistake for rectification and seek God’s healing altogether.
Thereafter, the NBCC will initiate meeting between Kilonsers of different groups, and if it is successful, will be followed by further meetings and talks amongst top leaders.
Recently, the NBCC had released a booklet on “Healing and Reconciliation”, which they had launched recently in an attempt to bring about reconciliation among the warring factions. The book takes a historical retrospection, and makes serious attempt to trace out the point where the Nagas have gone wrong, appeal for admission of these wrongs and mistake and making rectifications et al. It further attempts to seek God’s healing.
Though, as of now, their “Healing and Reconciliation” move have been facing opposition from the NSCN factions, NBCC said it is threading on with the hope that God would show Nagas the right way and time for reconciliation.
“Now they are not willing to what we have proposed. But we cannot expect them to say yes all of sudden”, said Rev Kari, adding that the reconciliation process will take time as it is a matter of healing a more-than-two-decades old wound.
Rev Kari also said that NBCC will carry on the healing and reconciliation initiatives prayerfully.
It is learnt that on December 5 last, NBCC peace team went to Mon and met the NSCN-K leaders, but, “we have been refused”, said Rev Kari. But, the NBCC will meet the former again shortly, he said. The NBCC will also go to Hebron Camp and meet the leaders of the NSCN-IM. However, this proposed meeting will be held after Christmas added Rev Kari.
