Morung Express News
Kohima | October 18
“We will give our best, and if we too fail, what God has in store for Nagas we don’t know”, was the final words uttered today by GB Federation President K Vikuto Zhimo at peace-march of the Kohima district GB Federation and DB Association held in the state capital.
The peace march, which culminated into a crucial meeting at the Kohima Indoor Stadium, reaffirmed support to the earlier GB/DBs’ peace resolutions. A clear warning was sent out that the Naga “national” movement could crumble within a decade, in manner of the Tower of Babel, if the insidious factional feud is not put to stop immediately. The meeting conveyed fear that the Naga movement which has already been reduced into a factional movement could further reduce to inter-tribal conflict if the fratricidal killing is not contained well in time.
Addl. Chief Secretary and Commissioner TN Mannen, who was the main speaker at the meeting, said that about 95% percent of the Nagas have lost interest in the movement because of the factional antagonism. “It is not an independence movement any more. It has become a factional movement as such people have forgotten the independence. What they are concerned about now is peace and security”, Manned reminded.
Referring to the ongoing talks between the government of India and the Naga undergrounds, Mannen said that if Nagas miss the opportunity again this time, it will take a long time to come up again.
“Naga struggle should be a whole Naga movement, it should not be faction alone”, Mannen also said, reminding that unity among the faction is must if it has to achieve its objective. GB Federation Vikuto also lamented “We send our sons for independence. But killing will not be allowed.” He added that for twenty years, Nagas have been astray instead of fighting for their rights.
Kohima Deputy Commissioner Sachopra Vero also called upon the GBs and DBs to give more effort to bringing permanent peace amongst the factions.
He urged the GBs to pass on the information immediately on any unwanted activities of the UGs so that situations can be prevented. Sachpra opined that GBs and DBs have been the custodians of customary law and can penalize cadres of any faction if the latter violates a decision.
The meeting also strongly reiterated that hungry and sick cadres of any faction will be taken care of by villagers, but any factional clash, extortion and intimidation will not be tolerated.
Convener Taku Longkumer urged the gathering not to politicize the move of the GBs and DBs in the forthcoming election.
The Naga Hoho and the Nagaland Baptist Church Council along with other civil society and NGOs have tried their best to bring about peace and reconciliation amongst the warring underground factions. However, their efforts have not yielded any result. Angami Public Organization, Angami Women Organization and several others also spoke during the meeting.
Earlier, on June 6 this year, the Joint Forum Working Committee of the Nagaland GB Federation and Nagaland DB Association has adopted a five-point resolution which included an appeal to shun fratricidal killing, to advocate understanding and conducive atmosphere amongst the different factions; to let all agreed for 6 months period of ceasefire and to launch a non-cooperation movement against any faction violating the resolution; to bring top leaders of the factions together during this CF period to establish a harmonious atmosphere for dialogue and to encourage them to find a peaceful approach to the Nagas issue.
All the factions had ‘accepted’ these resolutions.
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