Imperative of highest level meeting of Naga groups

 

As the ‘Journey of common hope’ enters the fourth year and the fourth month of  the new calendar, the imperative of the proposed “highest level meeting” of the  Naga political groups has taken centre-stage. Concerns have been raised that if the parties involved do not ‘take the plunge,’  then the elusive “meeting” might as well turn out to be the search for Eldorado  or the Philosopher’s stone. The Quakers, a group of international pacifists, have advised the Naga groups  against delaying the “highest-level meeting.”
“We believe that it is now the earnest will of the Naga people for high-level  talks to be held at this point. The longer such a meeting is put off, the more  difficult it will be for the reconciliation process to be carried forward. It  may not be possible to remove all obstacles before such a meeting,” the Quakers  stated in an open letter to Naga leaders Th. Muivah, Kitovi Zhimomi and S  Singnya on March 12, 2011.
 “It is your commitment to reconciliation before God and the Naga people that  must carry the day. We appeal to you to seize this opportunity to meet and to  sign an agreement, go beyond your difficulties and strengthen the reconciliation  process,” the letter said. Similarly, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) spearheading the “Naga  Reconciliation: A journey of common hope” in an open letter last month (March  18, 2011) to the three groups –NNC/FGN, GPRN/NSCN and NSCN/GPRN- said the “time  to decide and act is now.”
“It is time for all Nagas to question our own personal commitment to  reconciliation. The longer you delay the highest level reconciliation meeting,  the greater the chances of the Naga reconciliation process becoming vulnerable  to violence by internal and external forces. The time to decide and act is now,”  FNR said. FNR said the open letter was written on behalf of a “beleaguered people” who,  despite their anguish, continue their journey of common hope.
“In times of difficulties such as the present, you may be tempted to take any  one of these four approaches in dealing with the situation: (1) Flee it! (2)  Fight it! (3) Forget it! (4) Face it! The first three will end in failure—only  the fourth option will open the door to strengthen reconciliation,” FNR said.
Decades of bitter internecine conflicts and contest for territorial domination  among the Naga groups, have made the healing and reconciliation process a tough  call. Nonetheless, the efforts of the past three years have not gone in vain as the  FNR at a press conference on March 30 (2011) said, “We have experienced within  the last three years that ‘impossibilities’ can be turned to ‘possibilities.’
The spirit of concreted hope and faith needs to be renewed and carried on.” The Forum also said that “While FNR pursues the desires and longings of the  people, we earnestly entreat one and all to bear in mind that reconciliation  process has started a new chapter of unraveling issues of logistics, security,  communication and trust building – the core bases on the practical level towards  the goal.”
And after a lull, the journey seems to be back on track with the Naga political  groups re-affirming their commitment to the ‘Covenant of Reconciliation.’  Hopes of the proposed “highest level meeting” have also revived with the three  groups giving verbal or written assurances to FNR that they have not backtracked  from their commitments.
The NNC/FGN in a letter to FNR and Naga public signed by Kedaghe (president)  ‘Brig’ (retd) S Singnya and vice president Zhopra Vero, dated March 28, stated,  “While we remain steadfast to the COR, we are sincerely committed to the Highest  Level Naga Summit  to be held at the earliest.”
In the meantime, the FGN implored the Naga people to be patient as the  signatories of the COR prepare all “logistical needs” for the summit. The GPRN/NSCN also in a letter to FNR dated March 28, admitted that though at  times Nagas have been “swayed by forces despite our assurance,” the GPRN/NSCN  remains committed to upholding the spirit of COR by working out differences in  the “spirit of love, non-violence, peace and respect to resolve our outstanding  issues amongst us.” “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the meeting of the highest level  leadership has been delayed. However, we pledge our commitment to the FNR in  their positive efforts for the reconciliation of Nagas,” stated the GPRN/NSCN  letter signed by general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi and C-in-C, Naga Army, Gen.  Khole.
FNR convenor Rev. Wati Aier also briefed the media about his meeting with  NSCN/GPRN chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Th. Muivah and their  comments on reconciliation and proposed highest level meeting, at Hebron Camp on  Tuesday last.
According to Rev. Wati, the NSCN chairman reiterated his earlier dictum saying,  “I pray daily for FNR and Naga reconciliation. All Nagas must come together. I  and my government shall fully abide by the COR.” Likewise, the FNR convenor quoted Muivah’s comment: “We must make it clear that  we are for reconciliation. Let us not make any pretext nor rationalize at the  expense of the Naga national cause…Chairman (Isak Swu) and I are fully committed  to Naga reconciliation and we will never divert from COR.”
It may be mentioned the GPRN/NSCN had earlier decided to keep in abeyance its  participation in the highest level meeting accusing the rival NSCN/GPRN of  breaching the ‘Covenant of Reconciliation.”
Both GPRN/NSCN chairman SS Khaplang and general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi in  their Naga ‘Republic Day’ speeches on March 21 last, have stated that the group  was compelled to disengage itself from the ‘meeting’ because of the reported  ongoing “offensive” and “territorial expansion” of the rival group in Eastern  Nagaland (Myanmar).
The NSCN/GPRN has, on its part, denied the accusations. Amid the tension, the FGN proved to be a balm as the group sought pardon from  the Naga people for “all the mistakes” committed by the group. FGN vice president Zhopra in a statement dated March 16 (2011) expressed concern  over the “recent outbreak of violence in Eastern Nagaland and in the Pochury  region,” and said that such incidents lead to mistrust and suspicion. While pleading that the highest level meet be convened “without delay,” the FGN  also requested all Naga national groups and patriots to take up the “cross of  reconciliation in the spirit of forgiveness.”
Earlier, on November 18, 2010, concerned over the delay, representatives from 40  Naga organizations and tribal bodies at a meeting called by the FNR in Dimapur  unanimously proposed that the “highest level meeting” should be convened within  the next 45 days.
The FNR also since October 2010 had a total of 31 meetings with the political  groups and their leaders, either jointly or separately, to push the ‘meeting.’ The Naga people, who have extended solidarity, support and cooperation  throughout the journey and who are still anxiously awaiting the ‘meeting’ have  one question in their mind – “How long?” “After all the expectations, if the highest level meeting does not come to pass,  then it will be another missed opportunity in the pages of Naga history,” a Naga  elder said.