DIMAPUR, JUNE 30 (MExN): A joint meeting between the mediators and representatives from the Chang Khulei Setshang, the Yimchungru Tribal Council (YTC) and the Convener of the peace committee ENPO was held at the Nagaland Commissioner’s office on June 29.
A statement from the mediators in the peace initiative informed that the meeting in connection with the ongoing initiative to restore normalcy between the Chang and Yimchungru communities. Six representatives each from the various bodies attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the various vexing issues confronting the peace initiative. The mediators stated that significant progress has been made during the last few months on the peace initiative where the approaches of both the CKS and the YTC towards the issue are reconciliatory and accommodative, without being retaliatory or confrontational. “This approach which could be termed as a dawn of hope for permanent peace is commendable,” they stated.
The meeting stressed on the need for the restoration of lasting good neighbourly relationship between the two communities, and asserted that a time has come for peace settlement and not confrontation.
“This is a dire need for both the communities to embark on the principle of forgive and forget policy, recognising the indispensability of the Changs and Yimchungrus to live as good brotherly/sisterly neighbours,” the mediators observed.
“...on the principle of forgive and forget, one should be prepared to give to enable to receive,” the meeting noted while discussing that to achieve the goal of lasting peace, one should have the courage in admitting ones mistake and apologise for it.
According to the statement, the one “grey area” that the meeting faced was in relation to the “contradictory views held by the two communities on the issue of boundary between Chendang and Yakor villages.”
“However, after a marathon debate on the issue, it was finally resolved that the mediators will conduct a spot verification inviting all the aggrieved villagers to present their own views in a joint meeting,” the mediators informed. The meeting resolved that following the hearing from all said villages (Yakor, Chendang, Saddle, Panso), the mediators will forward their recommendation to the state government for approval. “This was resolved with the full endorsement by both, CKS and YTC,” they informed.
A joint meeting between Kuthur and Tuensang villages will also be held under the sponsorship of the mediators. The meeting resolved that the CKS and YTC will move the SIT to complete investigation on the disappearance of one Hanjila and her daughter at the earliest. “No retaliatory action with tribal colours will be resorted to as and when the investigation is completed,” it added.
It further agreed to a “peace feast” on completion of the peace initiative, which will be arranged by the ENPO at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, regarding the case of late Chipong Yimchunger who was pulled out from the Civil Hospital, Tuensang and “lynched by a mob,” the mediators stated that the CKS has agreed to formally extend apology to the YTC “on the principle of forgive and forget.” “The same yardstick will be applied in the case of late Thongsomong, late Chingmak, late Chungma, and late Chaang,” they added.
In all the above cases, the statement informed that “the deceased were murdered by unidentified miscreants but since the death occurred in a particular jurisdiction, the tribe under whose jurisdiction such incidences took place will extend apology to the tribe of the victim on forgive and forget principle.”
“This principle will equally apply to those communities whose properties were either destroyed or had undergone physical and mental suffering or had hurt through the media,” it added.
