Ashikho Pfuzhe
After thirty years of internecine fights between the various Naga underground groups, there appears to be a silver lining in the dark clouds of factional clashes as the “Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope” continues to make headways.
The ‘Journey’ spurred by the “Covenant of Reconciliation” finally found consummation in the “September 18 Summit,” where top leaders of the three Naga political groups –GPRN/NSCN, NNC/FGN and NSCN/GPRN – issued a joint declaration stating that they are "reconciled" based on the "Historical and Political rights of the Nagas."
Signatories of the joint declaration including NSCN/GPRN Ato Kilonser (general secretary) Th. Muivah, GPRN/NSCN Ato kilonser Kitovi Zhimomi and NNC/FGN Kedaghe (president) ‘Brig.’ (Retd) S Singnya, also committed themselves to working out differences as outlined in the “Covenant of Reconciliation” (CoR) and “cessation of all forms of hostilities including any territorial expansion.”
The much-awaited “highest level meeting” (September 18 Summit) held in Dimapur came about after more than two years of relentless ground works by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and Joint Working Group (JWG) of the three Naga political groups and unceasing prayers of Naga churches and public.
Earlier on June 13, 2009, NSCN/GPRN chairman Isak Chishi Swu, GPRN/NSCN chairman SS Khaplang and NNC/FGN president S Singnya signed the “historic” “Covenant of Reconciliation,” solemnly committing themselves to “Naga Reconciliation and forgiveness,” and resolved to “continue to work together in the spirit of love, non-violence, peace and respect.”
The FNR described the signing of the CoR as the cornerstone of “unfolding a new era for the Nagas,” and that it had opened vistas of access to free movement among the signatories of the Covenant and provided the avenue for free dialogue among them.
“It is a Magna Carta of the people resolving the past through forgiveness and wielding the future in respect of common humanity and common political identity,” FNR convenor Rev. Dr. Wati Aier said in one of the public meetings. With fruition of the summit, expectations are high and in the words of FNR, the summit signals the "beginning of a new era of bright hope for the Nagas."
"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," the FNR said at a press briefing a day after the summit.
Several organizations, over-ground political parties and leaders and churches both within Naga areas and abroad have hailed the breakthrough summit and said that this has given a new hope for an end to decades of hatred, bitterness and bloodshed among the Naga groups.
Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) congratulated the FNR and Naga political groups for the “epoch-making summit.” NBCC in a press statement expressed optimism that the political leaders would be able to weather difficulties and reach the objective of “a unified Naga voice.”
Likewise, the Council of Naga Baptist Churches (CNBC) said that “Nagas are one and our commonalities are far greater than our differences... Reconciliation and unity is the key to bring about common hope and dreams, our common vision and aspirations into reality.”
Terming the September 18 summit as “a red letter day” in the annals of Naga political history, the apex tribal organization Naga Hoho said “a ray of hope surfaced when re-conciliation process was launched by the FNR under leadership of Rev. Dr Wati Aier."
The Hoho also appealed to other Naga groups yet to join the re-conciliation process, to renew their vision and tolerance and partake in the “nation building process.” Similar comments have also poured in from other tribal organizations of Naga-inhabited areas. Over-ground political parties in Nagaland including the ruling NPF government, the opposition Congress and leaders have also acknowledged the FNR and JWG for striving to bring reconciliation, peace and unity.
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and other churches abroad also lauded the reconciliation efforts of the FNR. "We are greatly encouraged by the recent news coming out of the September Summit in Dimapur," read a letter sent to the FNR by BWA General Secretary Neville Callam and director of Freedom and Justice Raimundo Barreto.
"We appreciate the symbolism of this covenant, and the impact it might have among the Naga people. We also understand that any process of reconciliation and healing needs to be nurtured every day. We urge those who signed the covenant to remain committed to this reconciliation as it will make a lasting impact in the lives of their people," the letter added.
Backdrop of internecine conflict
More than 60 years after Nagas first revolted against the Government of India in 1947 and the 1951 Naga Plebiscite where 99.9 % Nagas reportedly voted to choose their own destiny, the Naga political issue still continues to elude a final solution. An inevitable outcome of the protracted political struggle formerly under the banner of the Naga National Council (NNC), led to differences of opinions among the insurgent leaders leading to creation of new groups and split within the NNC.
The 1975 Shillong Accord where some representatives of the Naga underground organizations agreed to unconditionally accept the Constitution of India, was another turning point in the Naga struggle. A section of insurgent leaders who opposed the accord left the NNC and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.
Again, in 1988, the NSCN split to form two factions namely the NSCN (I-M) led by Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah and NSCN (K) led by SS Khaplang and Kitovi Zhimomi. The NNC also split into three groups.
This led to internecine fighting and the factional clashes, especially between the rival NSCNs, have cost hundreds of lives including civilians and brought untold misery to the Naga populace. Numerous efforts in the past by civil society and the Church to stop infighting among the Naga groups have yielded little results. Perhaps, such missions in the past failed due to lack of insight, commitment and courage to address the core issues of the internecine conflict.
Now a ray of hope has emerged
It all began with a humble journey undertaken by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in February 2008, with an appeal for reconciliation among the various Naga political groups, based on the “historical and political rights of the Nagas.”
A surmountable task given past lessons, members of the forum from diverse backgrounds led by Rev. Dr. Wati Aier met with the different groups and tried to convince their leaders of the futility of internecine killings and turf wars, as Naga history has shown that there no victors in such wars.
FNR also impressed upon the groups the need for struggling people to be united in purpose and how internal differences have weakened the Naga cause and that it was high time to adopt the biblical lesson of “turning swords into ploughshares.”
Slowly and by degrees, FNR earned the confidence of the three main groups - NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and NNC/FGN – and in a significant achievement, the top leaders of the three groups signed the “Covenant of Reconciliation.”
A joint working group (JWG) consisting of four members from each group was also constituted with the main task of facilitating a meeting of top Naga leaders of the three groups. The FNR and JWG members also toured Naga inhabited areas of Nagaland and Manipur under the banner “Naga Reconciliation: A journey of common hope” and interacted with the public, seeking their advice and suggestions on Naga reconciliation and unity.
Another unique approach of the FNR to foster oneness was the soccer matches organized earlier in Kohima and Dimapur. In these matches, a combined team of members from the three groups played against FNR and civil society.
(The above report is part of media fellowship for the 2010-2011 cycle of Panos South Asia's plural media and peace building in Northeast India)
