From despondency, the Journey of Common Hope is emerging with concrete hope towards the future. We are humbled and profoundly mindful of God’s faithfulness all through the journey—a journey sometimes filled with fear and hopelessness.
Amidst the abyss of uncertainty, the “Highest Level Meeting” of the Naga leaders has taken place on September 18, at Dimapur. It was attended by Mr. Th Muivah, the Ato Kilonser, NSCN/GPRN; Brig (Retd) S Singnya, the President, FGN/NNC; and Mr. Kitovi Zhimomi, the Ato Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN. Senior leaders who accompanied them were, Gen. V S Atem (Emissary to the Collective Leadership and Convener, Steering Committee), Mr. Qhevihe (Speaker, Tatar Hoho) and Mr. Kedulhitsu Tsuzu (Steering Committee Member) of the NSCN/GPRN; Mr. Azheto Chopy (Convener, NPAC), Mr. Huthrong Yimchungru (Kilo Lilonser), Mr. C Singson (Kilonser) of the GPRN/NSCN; and Mr. Zhopra Vero (Vice-President), Mr. Peshuo Lam (Kilonser), and Mr. Pudai Lam (Kilonser) of the FGN/NNC.
The September Summit maybe considered as the greatest news of the decade for the Nagas! Indeed, a priceless gift to the Naga people from our highest level leaders. We are touched by the sincerity of the Naga leaders and their down-to-earth leadership exhibited throughout the meeting proceedings. This signals the beginning of a new era of bright hope for the Nagas. We applaud each of them!
Just last Sunday, September 12, 2010, Christians across Naga areas and Baptists in many parts of the world were praying for the Highest Level Meeting of the Naga leaders. Today, September 19, exactly a week after, we are beginning to harvest the intercessions of God’s people. All achievements have come from God and FNR attests to this fact.
FNR would like to put in record of our sincere gratefulness to the Shisha Hoho Prayer Center, NBCC, CNBC, NCRC, Nagaland Catholic Churches Association, and other Christians organizations in Naga areas, and other Christian organizations throughout the world; and notwithstanding the Naga Hoho, ENPO, NMA, NSF, NPMHR, UNC, NWUM, and all other Naga Tribal organizations for your tireless support to Naga reconciliation.
In the coming days, the signatories of the COR will be engaged in working out our differences and for this the FNR, once again, must call upon all to render your fullest support. As often mentioned, the FNR assures all Naga political groups that one without the other will be incomplete and we stand by our words. FNR would like to reiterate that all of us are part of the jig-saw-puzzle of the Naga nation and everyone has a role to play.
Once more, the FNR acknowledges with much gratefulness Mr. Hukato and Debby Naga, for their wholehearted support in hosting the entire event. May God bless them!
For wider circulation the FNR would like to produce the text of the “Historical and Political Rights of the Nagas” as written in “ACROSS-the-BOARD: IPSO FACTO, Dated August 12, 2010:
“…(D)espite our rich documentation, FNR today is putting into record that the Historical and Political Rights of the Nagas, among many, are the following unequivocal to the Nagas:
1. Naga People’s Memorandum of 1929, known as the ‘Simon Commission,’ stating ‘Nagas should be left alone to decide our own future.’ The twenty signatories on January 10, 1929, also attested to the fact of all Naga regions who are not signatories due to communication difficulties are also included. (We must bear in mind that in 1929, transportation as we see today was not possible and there was not a single telephone line in the Naga hills).
2. The Britist India Act of 1935, declared “Naga Hills” as “Excluded Area” from India. It must be noted that the “whole of Naga areas were left as Naga Hills Excluded Area.” It is also important to note that the British Government and the Queen of England authorized Sir. Robert Reid to map the Excluded Naga Country.
3. The Memorandum of Shri Akbar Hyderi, June 26, 1947, stating that the “Naga National Council stands for the solidarity of all the Naga regions….(and) the Nagas right to self-determination.”
4. Nagas declared 14 August, 1947, as Naga Independence Day. In a solemn function at Mission Compound, Kohima, the Naga Flag was hoisted. The solemn function was attended by Mr. C R Pawsey, the then Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills District, and Rev. Supplee, American Baptist Missionary.
5. The historic “Naga Plebiscite” of May 16, 1951, where an overwhelming majority of 99.9% of the Naga people mandated to be an independent nation” (Page 2).
Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR)
