P.Chuba Ozukum
General Secretary, Naga Hoho &
Co-ordinator, Naga Civil Society visit
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. It has a total population of 1,685,000, (2001 census) which is about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter etchno-political conflict- the Troubles- caused by divisions between nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and unionists,comprising mainly of Protestants . Unionist want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists wish it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland. Since the signinmg of the “Good Friday Agreement” in 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the troubles have ceased their armed campaigns. It may be mentioned here that 3,254 people were killed during the conflict between nationalists and unionists community.
The Troubles were brought to an uneasy end by a peace process which included the declaration of ceasefires by most paramilitary organisations and the complete decommissioning of their weapons, the reform of the police, and the corresponding withdrawal of army troops from the streets and from sensitive border areas such as South Armagh and Fermanagh, as agreed by the signatories to the Belfast Agreement (commonly known as the “Good Friday Agreement)
As part of the United Kingdom, people from Northern Ireland are British citizens. They are also entitled to Irish citizenship by birth which is covered in the 1998 Belfast Agreement between the Irish and the British government, which, provides that: it is the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly (the two governments) confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.
Having realized the similarity between the Northern Ireland and the Naga people in regards to conflict situation and the peace process, the British Government invited some of the Editors from media houses in Nagaland in October, 2010 as “First phase of Naga people’s visit” with a view to facilitate how the media had played important role towards conflict transformation in Northern Ireland and England as well.
The second phase of Naga people’s visit to Belfast and London comprised of eight member Naga Civil Society delegation viz- Keviletuo Kiewhuo, P.Chuba Ozukum (Naga Hoho) Abeu-o Meru, Lochumbeni (Naga Mothers Association) Kelhouneizo Yhome (Naga Students’ Federation) Atoho Kiho (Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights) Sovenyi (Chakhesang Public Organization) and Nyamto Konyak (Principal, Konjong Higher Secondary School, Mon) under the joint venture of British and Nagaland Government through the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata and under the patronage of Foreign and Commonwealth Office, U.K undertook a tour of Northern Ireland and England from 15th-23rd October 2011. The tour was undertaken with the twin objectives of intimately studying and experiencing the socio-political arrangement and the processes involved in Nation-building in Northern Ireland as also to improve the networking and lobbying capacity of the Naga Civil Society.
The tour commenced with a one-day Workshop on ‘Conflict Transformations in Northern Ireland:Developments and Challenges’, hosted by Queen’s University, School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, Belfast on the 17th. On the same evening, the delegation attended a lecture delivered by Mr. Neiphiu Rio, the Honourable Chief Minister of Nagaland on the topic “Governance and Conflict-The Naga Context” at Queen’s University.
Other notable Civil Society Groups and NGO’s that the delegation interacted with in Northern Ireland included Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) Belfast, The Peace People, Belfast and The Intercomm (short for intercommunity) Belfast. Further, the delegation was granted an interview with Mr. Jim Gibney, the Political Adviser to Sinn Fein, a political party that is a major player and stakeholder in the Northern Irish Polity. The Delegation also had the privilege of a Round Table Meeting at the Northern Ireland Assembly with MLA’s from three political parties in the Coalition Government of Northern Ireland.
The Delegation arrived in London on the 19th and commenced with a series of interactions with various NGOs and Human Righhts goups. They include Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) London, Minority Rights Group International London, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) London and Amnesty International.
Before the conclusion of the official engagements, the delegation had an enlightening meet with the ‘Peace Building Team; Conflict Department’ and the Desk Officer for India and Bhutan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. Besides official engagements, an informal interactive session over dinner was hosted by the Naga Conciliation Group; Quaker Peace and Social Witness at Friends House London.
Furthermore, the delegation availed the opportunity to engage on an unofficial courtesy meet with Ms. Adinno Phizo, President NNC and Mr Kevilavor. During the interaction, the Naga civil society members stressed upon the need to come together of all Naga political groups and early solution of Indo-Naga political problem.
The Naga Delegation expresses heartfelt gratitude to Office of the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata and Foreign and Commonwealth Office U.K for the patronage offered and not forgetting the Government of Nagaland as a partner to this journey.
The delegation is particularly indebted to Mr. Mainak DE, Head of Press and Public Affairs, British Deputy High Commission Kolkata for his unstinting effort towards making the tour a reality and who accompanied the delegation as a guide throughout the tour in his official capacity. The Delegation also extends sincere thanks to Miss Jenny Wong, Visit Officer, Protocol Directorate: Foreign and Commonwealth Office London who was responsible for the welfare and the various official engagements of the Delegation in the U.K.
General Secretary, Naga Hoho &
Co-ordinator, Naga Civil Society visit
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. It has a total population of 1,685,000, (2001 census) which is about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter etchno-political conflict- the Troubles- caused by divisions between nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and unionists,comprising mainly of Protestants . Unionist want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists wish it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland. Since the signinmg of the “Good Friday Agreement” in 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the troubles have ceased their armed campaigns. It may be mentioned here that 3,254 people were killed during the conflict between nationalists and unionists community.
The Troubles were brought to an uneasy end by a peace process which included the declaration of ceasefires by most paramilitary organisations and the complete decommissioning of their weapons, the reform of the police, and the corresponding withdrawal of army troops from the streets and from sensitive border areas such as South Armagh and Fermanagh, as agreed by the signatories to the Belfast Agreement (commonly known as the “Good Friday Agreement)
As part of the United Kingdom, people from Northern Ireland are British citizens. They are also entitled to Irish citizenship by birth which is covered in the 1998 Belfast Agreement between the Irish and the British government, which, provides that: it is the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly (the two governments) confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.
Having realized the similarity between the Northern Ireland and the Naga people in regards to conflict situation and the peace process, the British Government invited some of the Editors from media houses in Nagaland in October, 2010 as “First phase of Naga people’s visit” with a view to facilitate how the media had played important role towards conflict transformation in Northern Ireland and England as well.
The second phase of Naga people’s visit to Belfast and London comprised of eight member Naga Civil Society delegation viz- Keviletuo Kiewhuo, P.Chuba Ozukum (Naga Hoho) Abeu-o Meru, Lochumbeni (Naga Mothers Association) Kelhouneizo Yhome (Naga Students’ Federation) Atoho Kiho (Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights) Sovenyi (Chakhesang Public Organization) and Nyamto Konyak (Principal, Konjong Higher Secondary School, Mon) under the joint venture of British and Nagaland Government through the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata and under the patronage of Foreign and Commonwealth Office, U.K undertook a tour of Northern Ireland and England from 15th-23rd October 2011. The tour was undertaken with the twin objectives of intimately studying and experiencing the socio-political arrangement and the processes involved in Nation-building in Northern Ireland as also to improve the networking and lobbying capacity of the Naga Civil Society.
The tour commenced with a one-day Workshop on ‘Conflict Transformations in Northern Ireland:Developments and Challenges’, hosted by Queen’s University, School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, Belfast on the 17th. On the same evening, the delegation attended a lecture delivered by Mr. Neiphiu Rio, the Honourable Chief Minister of Nagaland on the topic “Governance and Conflict-The Naga Context” at Queen’s University.
Other notable Civil Society Groups and NGO’s that the delegation interacted with in Northern Ireland included Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) Belfast, The Peace People, Belfast and The Intercomm (short for intercommunity) Belfast. Further, the delegation was granted an interview with Mr. Jim Gibney, the Political Adviser to Sinn Fein, a political party that is a major player and stakeholder in the Northern Irish Polity. The Delegation also had the privilege of a Round Table Meeting at the Northern Ireland Assembly with MLA’s from three political parties in the Coalition Government of Northern Ireland.
The Delegation arrived in London on the 19th and commenced with a series of interactions with various NGOs and Human Righhts goups. They include Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) London, Minority Rights Group International London, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) London and Amnesty International.
Before the conclusion of the official engagements, the delegation had an enlightening meet with the ‘Peace Building Team; Conflict Department’ and the Desk Officer for India and Bhutan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. Besides official engagements, an informal interactive session over dinner was hosted by the Naga Conciliation Group; Quaker Peace and Social Witness at Friends House London.
Furthermore, the delegation availed the opportunity to engage on an unofficial courtesy meet with Ms. Adinno Phizo, President NNC and Mr Kevilavor. During the interaction, the Naga civil society members stressed upon the need to come together of all Naga political groups and early solution of Indo-Naga political problem.
The Naga Delegation expresses heartfelt gratitude to Office of the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata and Foreign and Commonwealth Office U.K for the patronage offered and not forgetting the Government of Nagaland as a partner to this journey.
The delegation is particularly indebted to Mr. Mainak DE, Head of Press and Public Affairs, British Deputy High Commission Kolkata for his unstinting effort towards making the tour a reality and who accompanied the delegation as a guide throughout the tour in his official capacity. The Delegation also extends sincere thanks to Miss Jenny Wong, Visit Officer, Protocol Directorate: Foreign and Commonwealth Office London who was responsible for the welfare and the various official engagements of the Delegation in the U.K.
