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Forum for Naga Reconciliation
March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), officially characterized the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic when the virus swept into as many as 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people. Today, 23 days later (April 3 at 5:00pm), COVID-19 is affecting 204 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyances (cruise ships) with over a million positive cases and more than 54 thousand deaths, while more than 2.20 lakh people have recovered (www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/). The world, cutting across States, Governments, Corporations and Peoples, is coming together sparked by this shared challenge.
The world we were familiar with has dramatically altered in a very short time. We are, indeed, living in strange and unprecedented times. Nowhere in recent memory has humanity been required to forge solidarity with such immediacy and intentionality. The pandemic has shown how interconnected and interdependent we are. It is provoking us to labour in love, go to the root of our wisdom and harness our ability to think clearly with imagination and act creativity like never before.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has been inspired and motivated by many stories of solidarity, love and community responsibility and support towards one another in various parts of the Naga Homeland. Simultaneously, we have also heard stories of how fear has generated rumours, prejudice, stigma and discrimination.
All of us are impacted by this situation. Under the present conditions of uncertainty, FNR calls upon all people living in the Naga Homeland though while practicing social distancing, to be connected through social solidarity and shared responsibility for one another.
FNR sincerely:
1. ACKNOWLEDGES all persons responding on the front lines – health and medical workers, police, disaster management authority and power departments, town and municipal councils, essential service providers, journalists, civil administration and the Nagaland State government and all other departments and organization. Thank you all for your tireless and valuable services at this crucial juncture. We appreciate your hard work and the proactive measures initiated to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. IMPLORES the Nagaland Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers to concentrate political will to bring a COVID-19 Testing Center to Nagaland. This is an essential component to combat COVID-19 and will strengthen the public’s morale. Likewise, we call upon the governments to take necessary and adequate measures to address the needs of people living in Naga areas, on both sides of the border.
3. APPEALS to all people living across the Naga homeland to be steadfast, prudent and patient. Let us not give in to fear, rumours and panic, but be wise and responsibly care with positivity for our families and community with faith, hope and love.
4. CALLS TO PRAYER for those suffering and mourning the loss of dear ones. Let us reflect on what it means to be a peoples, to re-examine our values and allow ourselves to be led by wisdom.
FNR is holding all of you in the light, and believe we will emerge from this shared challenge as compassionate and just peoples.
Stay Safe and follow advisories by health professionals and authorities!
