Naga Reconciliation ignites new hope

Dimapur, September 20 (MExN): Naga civil society organizations today expressed great happiness and resurgent hopes that the top leaderships of the Naga political groups on September 18 met to hammer out ways to reconcile after decades of bloodshed. It is a greatest stepping  stone, Naga organizations said in separate messages received here today. 

In the midst of the renewed hopes, the corresponding message was, however, that the other groups who are yet to join the process of  reconciliation would do  so  too, as wished by the Naga people.

According to the Naga Hoho “it was like pouring water in duck’s back” for nearly twenty years the issue of bringing the Naga underground workers together and  stopping the bloodshed  that  was  caused. Thousands of Naga people have lost their lives against the wishes and aspiration of the Nagas, the hoho said in its message today. 

“A ray of hope surfaced when the reconciliation process was launched under the leadership of Dr. Wati Aier under the banner of Forum for Naga Reconciliation during which the FNR have encountered various forms of upheaval in the course of their journey of common hope for the last two years. Towards these bold initiatives, the Naga Hoho expresses its incontestable appreciation to FNR for their yeoman services to both men and God,” the hoho said. 

The Naga Hoho called September 18, a red-letter-day in the annals of Naga political history. Two ‘ato kilonsers’ (“prime ministers”) from the two dominant groups and the ‘kedaghe’ (“president”) of NNC/FGN sat together across the table to hammer out their past differences. “It was a moment of God’s answering to the Naga people’s prayer and their yearning for peace and permanent political settlement. Further, it was a greatest stepping stone leading towards the meeting of those signatories in the highest level as clearly emphasized in the covenant of reconciliation,” the Naga Hoho said. 

The Naga Hoho appeals to  other  groups who are yet to join the reconciliation process to renew their vision and tolerance and to participate in nation-building. “…or else, it would be a political tragedy and may lead to missing of another caravan in the long-sought peace process,” the hoho stated. 

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) extols Jesus Christ for having made possible the September 18 meeting “in spite of many hurdles”. “We heartily congratulate the Forum for Nagaland Reconciliation  and the highest level leaders of NSCN-GPRN, GPRN-NSCN, and NNC/FGN for the epoch-making  summit,” the NBCC Peace Affairs  said  in a message today. 

“We welcome this landmark in the reconciliation process.  We are confident that the top level leaderships are capable to navigate through all the difficulties and reach the ultimate goal with their consorted efforts.”

Since the 1990s, the Baptist church NBCC has been praying and working relentlessly with all churches for peace, unity and reconciliation of the warring Naga groups, the NBCC said.  The church hopes: “We are encouraged to see that FNR is making headway towards unity and reconciliation of the Nagas political groups. As reiterated by FNR that reconciliation must be inclusive of all Naga organization, we encourage every organization to be a part of this Common Journey.  May God continue to guide and bless the reconciliation undertaking.”  

Similarly, the Chakhesang Public Organization lauded the signing of the “Covenant of Reconciliation” in June 2009 and the “highest-level meeting” of leaders from the signatories on September 18, 2010. These events “surely means to work together for what God has planned for the Nagas through His gracious guidance. Is this not enough reason for Nagas to rejoice and give praises to God?” a happy CPO stated in a message today. “The CPO heartily applauds the leaders of the three Naga national political groups for demonstrating their commitments before God and the Naga people and also congratulates the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for enabling these historic events to take place,” the CPO said.

In the meantime, the CPO said, “let us continue to pray to God for those other Naga groups who are yet to join and participate in the Naga reconciliation process that they may also become a part of this process to make the Naga reconciliation complete and realistic.”

Another tribal apex, the Sumi Hoho, also lauded the September 18 meeting as ‘historic.’ “This is the ardent desire of all Nagas irrespective of political or tribal affiliations both underground and overground ever since the ‘Journey of Common Hope’ began with the FNR,” the hoho stated in its message. The Sumi Hoho congratulated Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, the convener and his forum colleagues for having successfully organized the summit against all odds. The forum is assured the hoho’s unflinching support and prays that God would bless them with more discernment to carry forward the commitments with all sincerity.

The Sumi Hoho also acknowledges the signatories of the September summit where the three top leaders of the Naga groups committed to reconcile on the basis of ‘historical and political rights of the Nagas’, its commitment to work out all differences as outlined in the COR and to cease all forms of hostilities and to carry forward these commitments.  “The Sumi Hoho prays that God Almighty grant them wisdom, health and long life so that ‘real and comprehensive reconciliation’ is achieved in their time. The Sumi Hoho also appeals to all concern not to waver in our efforts and commitment for Naga unity, reconciliation and peace process. However, with renewed spirit to continue to render our unflinching support to FNR till the process comes to its logical conclusion,” the hoho said.

The N-NagaDAO (Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organizations) also expressed happiness at the ‘highest-level summit of the Naga groups. “It’s a promise of a new dawn for our Naga society. The network also appreciates the never-say-die spirit of the FNR. We continue to pray for the successful culmination of all efforts, sacrifices and prayers into one united Naga family,” the NGO stated in its message.