Abraham Lotha
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) will be launching the Healing and Reconciliation Movement on September 29 at Dimapur in an effort to bring about healing and reconciliation among the various factions and Naga tribes. The NBCC firmly believes that “God means the greatest good for us to come from our truthfulness about our worst blunders and failures for which we are angry, unhappy or regretful.”
Unlike the earlier exercise by the Reconciliation Committee in Dec. 2001, at which the slogan was “Forgive and Forget,” (because we are Christians), which did not seem realistic (because we are human), the fundamentals for the NBCC new Movement are the following: “1.We all have made mistakes. No one is completely blameless. 2. All our mistakes and wrongs are interrelated because they are connected to our common crisis. 3. If we allow God to change and guide us, our mistakes and wrongs become our common strength for growth not the instruments for our destruction. This can happen if what is right and best for all is more important to us than our success, instant enjoyment, revenge and proving we are right and others are wrong. 4. The immediate challenge before us is to inspire one another to achieve inter-tribe healing, trust, reconciliation and cooperation so that the whole Naga family may grow together leaving behind our tribe-obsessed selfish ways. We inspire, not embitter, one another if we are transparent, the price to be paid for achieving an honorable workable political settlement, peace and development. 5. Hurts not transformed are always transferred. The power of unaddressed wrongs and unhealed wounds to destroy politics and society must not be underestimated.”
While the NBCC is pro-active when it comes to taking initiatives for reconciliation, such platforms are not new. The desire for unity was an agenda for a meeting called by Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister, the ministers and the Members of the Consultative Committee for Peace on July 27th, with the various church organizations for an informal exchange of views on the Naga political issue. On that occasion the NCRC (Nagaland Christian Revival Church) representatives said that “sovereignty must be based on reconciliation,” while the NBCC stated that “one should admit one’s mistakes and deal with it truthfully” for any reconciliation to happen. At that meeting important steps that need to be taken were pointed out. Among them, as Mr. N.C. Konyak said, was the involvement of the opinion of the masses because “Naga movement is people’s movement.” Other speakers also reiterated that factions involved in talks (with the Indian government) must be inclusive.
At the meeting with the Naga Hoho and NSF representatives about proposals made by the new Movement, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja said, “This is a spiritual approach to repent and return to Christ according to the Bible. We want people at the national level, district and village and community level to participate, to search the heart of the Naga people so that the word of God will reach all cadres. … We do not have any answer or solution. Our objective is: Let us search God.” But Rev. Terhuja is humble enough to say that the NBCC’s Movement is not the only way.
The concern of the NBCC is “to create a platform for the public to enable the people to freely express their opinion and thereby read and respect one another’s mind.” The need for such platforms arises because Nagas are afraid to say what is on their minds about the happenings in the name of Naga nationalism. There are certain basics that unite the Nagas about the current state of affairs concerning the political process and our future. Nagas are tired of intimations, forced taxations and factional killings and want these anti-social elements stopped immediately. Rev. Theruja talked about an occasion in Tseminyu where people expressed, “This is what we are looking for. We are looking for a platform to express ourselves. If we say something against NSCN-IM, they think we are against them. If we say something against NSCN-K, they think we are against them.” Mr. Bendangmayang, the President of Naga Hoho also talked about being in a helpless situation. “We are in a tight corner” he said. “We can’t express our opinion freely. Some groups accuse us if we say something. [They say] ‘Civil societies are supporting one party.’” More and more today, we are confronted with the unwanted truth that the factional fights are being drawn along tribal lines.
Two words are used frequently by the Nagas today: “God” and “reconciliation.” Both have become cheap. Reconciliation seems to be politically incorrect these days. But there is a cry from deep within the hearts of the Nagas to stop the factional killings and to restore peace among the Nagas. What we need today is more than platitudes.
The NBCC, as Rev. Theruja says, is “not sure how to go about” (in terms of course of action). Perhaps this statement is very symbolic of the present state of affairs. At a meeting with representatives of the Naga Hoho and NSF on Sept. 14th, Rev. Kari said, “the civil societies and churches are all working hard but still now there is no breakthrough.” According to the new NBCC paper, the breakthrough “starts with equal and respectful recognition of the heavy price our leaders and countless ordinary Nagas have paid in one way or another in the struggle for our common aspiration.” Other civil societies are also frustrated and confused about how to go about. From a humanistic point of view, Dr. Dietho Yhoshu suggested, at the meeting called by the Chief Minister on July 27that we need “people with big hearts – understanding hearts that can accommodate and be compassionate.” As troublesome as the current situation seems, he feels that we are sitting on an inexhaustible opportunity to unite.
What is lacking in all these efforts for reconciliation among the Nagas is the resourcefulness and contribution of the Catholic Church in Nagaland. At the meeting called by the Chief Minister on July 27th, the representatives of the Catholic Church came forward offering their goodwill, personnel and resources to provide a sort of platform and mediate the reconciliation process towards unity. But what has happened to that goodwill gesture since then? The closest thing to the idea of universal brotherhood is the Catholic Church. Compared to all the other churches, the Catholic Church has the most credibility among the Naga people. Blessed with some of the brightest minds among the Nagas and a highly educated clergy, the Catholic Church in Nagaland can play an important role as an instrument of peace and reconciliation among the Nagas. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church is yet to wake up and assume the leadership role. When I introduced myself at a meeting with the Naga Hoho and NSF to promote the new NBCC Movement, Rev. Kari said, “So the landslide is reaching towards the cathedral also?” alluding to my presence there. Mr. Kari was cynical when he said it, but he is not far from the truth.
We live in a historic moment or a kairos moment with a golden opportunity to create a harmonious future. After all, our goal is the same. As Wati Aier said at a meeting called by the Chief Minister, July 27th, we are “seemingly divided but Nagas are not divided in political rights.” We all have “a role to play as bridge builders and facilitators.” The most outstanding truth is that the Nagas are united in the desire for UNITY.
