Dimapur, June 5 (MExN): Director of Peace Channel, Fr. Dr. C.P. Anto, has called on the state government to set up a special commission “for peace and reconciliation mission” in Nagaland to settle all the issues face by the people.
He was speaking at a Peace Meet and Training for church leaders. With the theme “Ecumenical Coalition for Sustainable Peace in Nagaland,” the event was organised by the People’s Forum For Peace (PFP) in collaboration with Peace Channel at Holy Cross Church, Dimapur on June 4.
“It should aim at establishing prevention, reconciliation and intervention strategies to resolve and transform conflicts and conflicting situations,” Fr. Anto suggested.
While training the religious leaders in Dimapur, he stated that Nagaland can be a model state in setting up such commission in the country like Philippines, Rwanda, USA etc. Remarking that the existing situation is making “our youth to miss many opportunities to develop themselves,” he contended, “This commission can bring lasting and sustainable peace in the state.”
He also trained the church leaders to be skilled in “dialogue and peace building” so they can be “true pastors who can be a channel of grace and peace to many lives” and “a source of bridge between the conflicting persons, families, communities and villages”, a press release from the Peace Channel desk informed.
Noting that “conflict is natural and inevitable”, Fr. Anto contended that “Functional conflicts are good” as it brings positive changes and progress. But dysfunctional conflicts are always bad and produce negative effects, he maintained.
During the programme, participants shared their views and took a decision to conduct such programmes every once in a month.
