Lenten Agreement: Time to Act

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) last week announced to the Naga public about the Lenten Agreement signed by top Naga leaders as part of ‘Naga reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope’. The Lenten Agreement in short reiterates what was already agreed upon in the ‘Naga Concordant’, formation of a Naga National Government. While no doubt significant in terms of the resolve to form a ‘Naga National Government’, what is required is for such agreements to come to fruition. The latest Lenten Agreement is one among other similar statements issued in the past by the top leaders of the Naga Political Groups (NPGs).

In fact the resolve to form a Naga National Government goes back to the ‘Naga Concordant’ signed a few years back i.e. on August 26, 2011. In both the ‘Naga Concordant’ as well as the latest ‘Lenten Agreement’ there is mention about how the top leaders have agreed ‘in principle’ to form a Naga National Government. Both statements also mention about the need to ‘expedite this process of eventually forming the Naga National Government’ (Naga Concordant) and to begin this task ‘at the earliest and to be completed without delay’ (Lenten Agreement).

A valid question therefore is whether our top leaders are good only at signing statements or can they walk the talk and deliver on what they may say or agree on paper. It is now upto the NPGs to convert their thought process into political action as far as the issue of forming a Naga National Government goes. Their credibility along with that of FNR is at stake if they cannot deliver on what they have agreed in the ‘Naga Concordant’ and now the ‘Lenten Agreement’, to form a ‘Naga National Government’.

Also looked at it differently, given the larger political currents at present, it makes good sense to invest time on the political reconciliation of the NPGs. With Lok Sabha elections and the Naga peace talks in the back burner, the FNR along with the NPGs have done the right thing to revive the process towards formation of the Naga National Government at home. The peace talks with Delhi can wait for now. Also, whichever party or formation comes to power in Delhi after the elections, it will be probably correct to assume that a political decision on the Naga issue is expected sooner than later. In fact, the Naga public should now demand a timeframe for the formation of such a ‘National Government’ because more than ever before the situation demands that we are well prepared for a political settlement with India.

As per the ‘Lenten Agreement’, the FNR has been tasked to ‘work out the modalities to expedite the process’ towards formation of the Naga National Government’. And in a statement issued on July 7, 2013, the FNR has already laid down some guidelines to be followed towards this end. As rightly mentioned by the FNR and a very important point to be noted, such a national government will be “required to be people-centered and guided by the common aspirations of the people and not by any particular group”. Hopefully, the NPGs will work with the FNR in the spirit of the ‘Lenten Agreement’ and thereby demonstrate their willingness to work for the Naga people in one accord. On its part, the FNR should put the formation of a Naga National Government on fast track. This is an opportunity towards a new beginning as we look to the future well-being of the Nagas.