It is now crystal clear and self-explanatory that it is the sincere will of the Naga people to see the various Naga political groups reconcile, come together and jointly work for Naga rights. If the will of the people is the supreme authority, it is only natural that the Naga political groups themselves respond to this highest call for reconciliation. Ever since the politics of factionalism took center stage and marginalized the Naga rights for freedom, the polarization in Naga society took its toll. For a community based society such as the Nagas, the division became deeply entrenched and led to a chronic state of suspicion, fear and ultimately hate. Consequently the hurts caused to one another are also more profound.
It is quite clear what one is demanded by reconciliation. The various ingredients of reconciliation are self-evident and there is a natural inherent clarity in the purpose of reconciliation. The difficulty lies in addressing the burdens of both individual and group mistakes. It is the historical mistakes of each individual and group that stands in the forward movement towards reconciliation. The irony lies in the fact that while reconciliation opens up a wide possibility to build a new future based on respect and trust, it is the past that chains us to a status quo of disunity, despite the fact that one craves to be reconciled and united. The need for personal transformation with the will to overcome the burdens of the past is in reality the prime mover in reconciliation.
In the Naga context, the internal burdens of the past are weighing down the possibilities of the future. There are difficulties in addressing the past, largely because assumptions and mythmaking has covered up the truth; and because of the aggressive nature of the situation, people do not feel safe to either speak out their mistakes or for people to point out the hurts caused to them. This in the long run has only proved to be more destructive; and because it has not enabled any healing to take place, the people by large have been chained to the past. In effect, Nagas have been frozen in time. The politics of factionalism has diverted Naga rights away from its natural course, while the frozen and stagnant nature of the present situation has not enabled the Nagas to take ownership of the natural evolution of human progression.
In conditions of protracted armed conflict, no one can claim to be innocent. An individual’s silence and inability to protest against injustice, or a violent act of an individual or a group have all contributed towards a decaying order of oppression and violence. Hence, it is necessary that the grace of forgiveness must be allowed to walk with truth so that the burdens of the past no longer haunt the future. Reconciliation means a new life and transformation of individuals and groups are imperative. To enable the transformation of the Naga reality, it is therefore essential that the will of the people remains the voice of conscience.
