“Unity and Reconciliation”; a much needed essence to Naga freedom movement. However, to me it suits well with, “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity”. Whatever may be the head or tail, for me, it’s all the same as long as it leads to the aspired destination. But the concern of the people now is the shortest, safest and the best available route to the destination but how? Formation of a committee to spearhead a holistic mission of “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity” founded on people based meticulous planning may go a long way. This historic step may be most appropriately initiated by Naga Hoho, which will convene a meeting of all the tribal Hohos on “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity”. The followings may be significant for deliberation and subsequent resolution:
1. Formation of Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
2. Judicious representation of the Committee by people from across the length and breadth of Naga Homeland.
3. Endorsement of the Committee by all the Tribal Hohos to work for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
4. Authorization of the Committee to dictate over anyone or any organization if necessary for the welcoming of Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in Naga Homeland.
5. Preparation of working principles for the Committee.
After the formation of the Committee, it should prepare people based detail Road Map for the success of the mission. Enough time should be given in drawing the Road Map. Every wisdom should be employed to make sure that the adopted Road Map is the best available from every perspective. Once the Road Map is drawn, the Committee must be sincerely prepared for the launching of the mission focused, determined and undeterred. “Have great hopes and dares to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe them” – Norman Vincent Peale.
“Peace; peace is the tranquil state of human mind. Peace is love; it is the state of human heart. Peace is harmony; it is an essence of a beautiful world. It is the source of all the good things in a man’s life. Let’s give peace a chance.” “Peace” is must. “You cannot separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom” as Malcolm X says. The Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity must declare “Peace” in Naga Homeland as a beginning of its holistic mission for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. The message must be clear, deep and widespread. It must reach every strata of Naga society; it must reach all the churches, associations, organizations, and especially, it must reach all the Naga Revolutionary Organizations. Once Peace is reinstated, atmosphere conducive to work for Reconciliation and Unity will dawn.
Post Ceasefire (between Government of India and NSCN) killings are all factional, fratricidal, a killing amongst brothers. It is most unfortunate at the same time ridiculous top up with absurdity that this Ceasefire with Government of India (GoI) ironically has sparked a killing spree among factions. Why not a ceasefire is signed among factions in order to stop these factional killings? Why not and how? It’s all games the GoI plays with the Nagas. Are Naga leaders surely ignorant why and how? I don’t think so. Let every Naga leaders realize the futility of divided house; let the Naga leaders realize the wisdom of reconciliation. Sooner the better, else it will be too late that repairing will be too costly; it may even cost the issue itself. What is the profit if infighting has to cost our issue at any circumstances? Lo! If this issue dies, where do the Nagas stand? Nagas will die along with this issue.
A catalytic Ceasefire to Peace must be signed among factions as a responsive gesture to the call for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in the best interest of the Nagas as a whole. This means coming together and sitting across tables. The Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity must be the instrument to make this happen. No faction should object to this initiative for “Peace”. When all the factions can sign ceasefire with Government of India (that has been forcibly denying the Nagas rights), what on earth is the difficulty for the Naga Revolutionary Organizations in signing Ceasefire amongst them? Ceasefire agreement should be signed. Once Ceasefire is signed among factions, literally there will be no more killings among brothers. Whichever organization fails to accept this clarion call for Peace should be branded as anti-Peace, anti-Naga.
The Committee also needs to educate general public in line with the mission. The following points may be considered to be careful imparted to the public:
1. Accept that “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity” will accelerate solution to the protracted Indo-Naga Political problem. This is very important because, united we stand, divided we fall. As long as the Naga family is divided, freedom will continue to elude from us.
2. Pledge to partake in this mission. Naga issue is yours and mine. Accept that we are part of Naga National movement; nothing more, nothing less than any national worker or in that matter nothing more or less than Sir Isaac Chishi Swu or S.S. Khaplang or Kitovi or Th. Muivah. We must pledge that we are party to this issue. It also will certainly strengthen ones responsibility as a revolutionary. If we failed to do this, our sincerity over the issue is questionable. We are factor to Mission possible and vice versa. We cannot fail at any cost.
3. Control situation. Practices of wrong allegation must be stopped impromptu. Everyone must restrain/refrain from fomenting situation. We must be optimistic rather than pessimistic. Suspicious mind must be replaced with faith/confidence/optimism.
4. Restrains over-reaction. Knowing that the issue is sensitive, one must be very careful while reacting especially to news articles. We must not forget that our prime role in this mission is to facilitate peace. We are Peace Maker; we must avail every opportunity to take over anger with compassion and understanding. At any point of time we must restrain from overreacting.
The need for Reconciliation is our creation. This could have been avoided had we been careful, selfless, faithful and sincere to our cause. However, our own creation or other’s, problem is problem; it must be solved. Reconciliation amongst factions will be one big achievement for the Nagas because it is tantamount to demolition of a huge wall that has been long dividing the Nagas. It is a victory over folly; it is a victory over eccentricity. Most of all, it is a victory over enemies within.
Once Peace is reinstated, atmosphere conducive for working on Reconciliation will dawn. The Committee, taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere will then start working on Reconciliation amongst the factions. Bulldozing differences among the factions may be a prerequisite hence the following points can be considered to bring them down to logical parity to effect Reconciliation:
1. All the factions must accept that Reconciliation amongst factions will hasten ultimate solution to the protracted Indo-Naga Political problem.
2. All the faction must declare readiness for Reconciliation.
3. Leaders of all the factions need to educate/counsel cadres on subject matters related with Reconciliation. Cadres need to be educated, disciplined and counseled to refrain/restrain from doing anything that will foment/worsen situation.
4. All the factions should accept commitment of crimes against each other. Therefore, forgive and forget.
5. Factions should not deviate from their principle of Naga National movement. Therefore, all the factions need to review their respective activities/stands vis-à-vis Naga National principle.
The followings are also terms, which are being interpreted and understood by different section of the society in different spectrum. These terms need to be interpreted and understood together in the same wavelength.
1. Integration: For Nations in the making like the Nagas, political integration of lands is prerequisite for a recognized Nation. Integration of Naga homeland is every Nagas wishes and aspiration. We cannot forget that a Country is bounded by international boundary line concretizing its jurisdiction and reaches and limits of its authority and administration. Therefore, it must be clear to all the Nagas that an attempt to integrate fragmented Naga homelands should not be at any cost misconstrued and/or opposed. The NSCN (K) leaders need to reconsider its stand opposing integration of fragmented Naga homeland. This move may have been strongly initiated by the NSCN (IM), but I am sure NSCN (K) leaders will agree to its genuineness irrespective of having many differences in many areas. Integration of Naga homeland is aspiration of our forefather, aspiration of every Naga yesterday, today and tomorrow. No matter how wide is the gap and how different is their ideology, as a true Naga National worker, the aspiration for a united family cannot be removed from their heart.
2. Federal Relationship: Understanding of a section of Naga society on the proposed Federal Relationship between GoI and the Naga Nation as a means of honorable solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political problem is a proposal for solution within Indian Constitution; therefore, is an absolute sellout and cannot be accepted at any cost. This doubt or confusion needs urgent clarification from the Collective Leadership, GPRN/NSCN (IM) before it’s too late because it stands tall and strong against Reconciliation. Keeping in abeyance the core concept and meaning of the relationship, what comes to the mind of the section of the general public is that it is a new aspiration away from sovereignty, the aspiration of the Nagas in the past, the present and the future. Whatever, the Naga people want sovereignty and sovereignty only. Nothing doing as long as the solution falls short of sovereignty. But who cannot accept better option? If the proposed Federal Relationship is being found consonant with time and situation, peace loving Nagas have no reason why it should not be regarded. Therefore, the Collective Leadership of the GPRN/NSCN (IM) must explain what Federal Relationship is, how is it going to be like, what is the limit of the relationship, why Federal Relationship, etcetera.
3. Meaning of sovereignty vis-à-vis Naga Freedom Movement: Sovereignty literally means freedom, self-governance, authority, autonomy, etc. However, it has been found interpreted by different people in different ways and terms. It is indeed a vague term, which is open to varied interpretation. As far as I could understand and belief, for the GPRN/NSCN (IM), there is no Nation that is totally or 100% sovereign. Even super powers like the USA are not 100% sovereign. No person is 100% sovereign or free except God the almighty. Interdependence is must and is the mantra of survival and security in the modern world; no one can escape from this truth. The so-called Sovereign Nations are all interdependent in one way or the other. Therefore, talking about absolute Sovereignty carries no meaning and holds no water. I believe that this is the basis on which the NSCN (IM) came in term with the GoI on join administration in some areas acceptable to both Nations like Border defense, External Affairs, Currency, etc. while maintaining a status of a free Nation having its own Government, Constitution, Citizenship, etc. Accepting the meaning of sovereignty in the same wavelength by the Naga people and also by the revolutionary organizations is very important because of the fact that the Naga revolutionary movement circles around Sovereignty of Naga people.
At last but not the least, I am sure Reconciliation will take place very soon. Our leaders irrespective of groups or factions will come together and will be sharing their differences. That day, it will be crystal clear that their differences are found being hinged on miscommunication, selfishness and ego. They will all accept the folly of their egoism and regret for it because this folly is the reason for the dead of thousands of promising and young cadres; this folly is the reason for the broken down families. However, it will stand as a milestone of a new beginning in the history of Naga National Movement. From there, at last the Nagas will see the Promised Land. No one can anymore stop the Nagas from reaching its destination thence.
After having reconciled in letter and spirit, Unity will be a spontaneous incentive to the Nagas. May God be the Glory. May He take charge over the Naga National Movement and bring solution to Indo-Naga political problem in our time. KUKNALIM.
Romeo Maring
Signal Bosti, Dimapur
Contact: raal_man@rediffmail.com
