The extension by one year, of the ceasefire between the NSCN (K) and the Government of India should be welcomed by all sections of the Naga people. However, there has been a growing opinion of those who now view such annual rituals being played out by the Government of India with both factions of the NSCN as nothing more than mere signboards and not much to write home about. It is also a matter of continuing concern that while hostilities between the Indian armed forces and the NSCNs have ceased, the fact that such a period of relative peace have not been exploited to rally together the underground outfits, is therefore an issue that needs to be seriously addressed by the Naga people sooner than later. Despite efforts made both at the governmental and the Naga Hoho level involving civil society groups, the way to peace and reconciliation remains as distant as ever.
Against this backdrop, the decision of the Naga Hoho to put in place a reconciliation committee is therefore a step in the right direction. Any process at reconciliation should put together efforts that will bring together all sections of Nagas, particularly the underground groups, for the greater cause of rebuilding the Naga family and ending years of blood-letting. Much as the people would like the different factions to come together, the Naga Hoho should also realize that the problem cannot be solved without first achieving unity among the innumerable number of Naga tribes. To take upon the mantle of reconciling differences among the underground organizations, the Naga Hoho must therefore first get on-board those who continue to remain outside of it and in the process widening the ambit of its own platform in order to achieve greater legitimacy in its work and initiative.
There is a general feeling emerging that unity among the different warring groups is a pre-requisite to permanent peace and also for any solution to be made acceptable to all sections of the Naga people. As per the latest Morung Express Poll, an overwhelming number (57%) of people voiced the opinion that for peace to be attained, Nagas must pursue both solution and reconciliation simultaneously. This may well be the only logical step to pursue at this juncture. Failure to take this into account may only allow the Naga people’s history with accords and discords to repeat it-self. Permanent peace for the people will remain as elusive as ever. The biggest concern for the common masses is on whether initiatives for unity have reached a point of no return. One will only hope that this is not the case. The doors to peace and unity must be kept open so that the systemic self-destructive divisions being perpetuated on the Nagas by inimical forces, is not made a political argument for New Delhi to deny the inherent right and aspiration of the people.
