DIMAPUR, MAY 10 (MExN): The North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC), Oriental Theological Seminary in collaboration with Peace Channel will hold a Nagaland-Manipur Peace Activists’ Meet to be held on May 13 and 14.
This Peace Activists’ Meet is in continuation of similar gatherings held every year since 2007. They are conceptualised as platforms where issues of importance to the region can be discussed and a common plan of action can be concretised. The concept note from the organizers informed that the core idea of the meet is “reflective sharing and learning from each other. Hence, the two day event will be a sharing platform, not a training programme.” “We can share and discuss the challenges faced, achievements and success stories, deficiencies and drawbacks in our efforts to bring peace amid conflicts. It will be an effort to look at our work critically and constructively, discussing the way forward to peace.”
It added that this will also be an opportunity to share on the study NESRC is conducting on autonomy, self-determination and sovereignty. NESRC engages in one study each year on the broad theme of Conflicts and Peace in the region.
This year, the centre is making an attempt to understand the concept of autonomy, self-determination and sovereignty in order to encourage a debate on the applicability of these concepts to the peace process as advocated by various stakeholders of the region.
“Autonomy and self-determination have been chosen because many conflicts in the region are around these issues. The region having a strong presence of different ethnic groups has been experiencing armed struggles with the ‘nation state’. There is a need to look at the ideas that fuel the conflicts along with other reasons which help in sustaining the conflicts that are manifested in violence in the region,” the organizers stated. It said that the continuing conflicts in the region “manifest themselves today in border conflicts and ethnic tensions, and polarise the communities of the region against each other.”
The meet has been organised to discuss some of these issues and pave a way forward to peaceful existence. “We are looking forward to a lot of critical thinking, critical introspection, open and fruitful discussion with active participation from each participant. We hope that the participants will enrich each other through their sharing of experiences and learning,” the organizers said.
