In situations of armed conflict, where suspicion, resentment, confusion, division, political violence and loss of human life dominates human affairs, the challenge to recovery often lies in finding a starting point, that not only breaks the vicious cycle of destruction, but also offers new hope.
Human experience shows that the very act of saying Sorry is always a good starting point to begin some form of honest conversation around broken and hurt relationships between people. It does not imply that everything is okay, nor does it suggest that the hurt committed is acceptable. Sorry only represent the willingness to begin a process of repentance, forgiveness and to provide an opportunity to allow the transformation of broken relationships.
It takes enormous moral courage and political will to be able to say Sorry, largely because there is so much fear of reprisals and a lack of understanding of what it is perceived to represent. History has quite clearly shown that only those political leaders with some sense of vision and will have the political courage to take the profound decision to acknowledge injustices and hurts meted out on the people, and to say Sorry for the harms caused. The process that emerges out of the act of an apology can help shape the future towards a direction of mutual acceptance and healing.
For people who have been wronged and on the receiving end of injustices, an apology may only represent a symbolic form of public acknowledgement in which their injustices are being recognized, and not brushed under the carpet. And yet, it is a step that allows them to begin the process of breaking from a hurtful past to that of people who have survived. An apology is a fundamental necessity to enable a reconciliation process to have relevance and to allow a pathway to respect possible. Sorry is not just a social and spiritual necessity, it is foremost a political act with consequences that go far beyond politics; it impacts all spheres of human life. After all, Desmond Tutu reminds us, there is no future without forgiveness.
Unfortunately the acts of repentance and forgiveness has not been fully appreciated nor fully understood. Political leaders have not quite fully realized how historical injustices burden the paths of the future; and how the act of genuinely saying Sorry begins to liberate the present and future from the past.
Nagas feel we have been wronged by others, but it is equally true that we have wronged others; and most importantly we have profoundly hurt and wronged each other. Hence it is only necessary that Nagas say Sorry to those who we have hurt, so that we too may be lifted off the burdens of our own history. But this may be made possible only when Nagas have the courage to admit and say Sorry to each other so that an honest conversation may begin to take place on how to address wrongs committed from within.
At this juncture, it is of vital importance for our Naga political leaders to chart a new direction in the building of a shared Naga future by saying Sorry and seeking forgiveness from the people. In a time where Naga leaders are seeking to come together, it would be prudent on their part to publicly say Sorry to the people so that the broken relationships may begin to be addressed.
