Continuing with its “Walking the Naga Day” dialogue, Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) , a civil society group, pursuing reconciliation among Nagas, held an open public interaction on “Reasoning Together” at The Heritage, Old DC Bungalow Saturday.
Around fifty attended which included some senior prominent citizens and several youths, the latter of who were largely unaware of the around six decade-old vexatious and complicated Naga issue.
Convenor of FNR Rev.Dr.Wati Aier gave a brief outline about the Forum and its objective and reiterated that it was not inclined to any particular group, to dispel misgivings that it (FNR) was working in tandem with one faction. Dr.Wati reasserted that the one objective of FNR was to pursue reconciliation among various Naga groups and also build bridges within the Nagas.
Dr.Wati also maintained that statehood and the various political agreements was not accepted by sections of Nagas because of which bloodshed followed, thereby one must ensure that the same mistake was not repeated.
Another prominent member of the FNR, Akum Longchari, recalled that initially the forum had to face a difficult situation dictated by the process it sought to pursue as it had to respond to the crisis defined by violence and bloodshed between rival groups.
On the reconciliation journey, Longchari opined that there was a need to go beyond big meetings to discuss with one another, to identify issues that need to be addressed, share the hope and dreams, to be able to define the fear as it was the biggest hurdle as it only brought mistrust.
Longchari expounded that the goal for unity cannot be done by FNR alone without the active support of the people in order to move towards healing and forgiveness which required the efforts of every individual.
He also informed that as part of “Walking the Naga Day”, FNR will travel to Delhi and meet different Naga personalities and organizations and then to different parts of Nagaland.
Asked about progress of reconciliation process, the response of Naga national groups and whether FNR met any hurdles from national groups, Longchari said despite the challenges, FNR continued to push with determination to create a sense of oneness and peaceful coexistence among people.
Many of the participants particularly the senior citizens advised the FNR to play positive role, in bringing the factions together and make them frankly and openly take responsibility for the wrongs done.
Former NPSC chairman, K Puroh, asked “why are Nagas cheating ourselves” by saying that settlement was ready except over the issue of separate Naga flag, when the government of India clearly said it could give anything under the Indian constitution except sovereignty and Naga integration?
Puroh also said the government of India would like to have a broad-based solution involving all sections of Nagas unlike the mistakes of past accords and agreements. He threw a question on FNR as to whether it realised that reconciliation could take much longer?
He also said Nagas must also admit their mistakes and urged FNR to play a positive role in its pursuit but not to give false hopes to Nagas.
Prominent peace activist, Niketu Iralu, shared his view that FNR was attempting to achieve a very important goal for all Nagas, adding “we must start what was not done long time”.
He also reiterated that while trying to make a Naga nation, history will show that Nagas are not anti-nationalists nor anti-India but that “we are who we are.”
Iralu said the Naga struggle ought to be examined honestly and correctly at regular times, so that Nagas were up to date in the response to the changing world and credited FNR for doing that.
Some of the participants also spoke out about FNR and advising it against committing any mistake of being used as a tool by any section etc. They also pointed out to the poor attendance to the first Naga Day held in Kohima in January and urged FNR to be more accommodative.
Dr. Wait replied that pathos of Nagas began with suspicion and that hiccups were from within the Nagas. He said it was “our” own faction who stopped the Nagas from attending the Naga Day programme.
To queries on past atrocities against Nagas, Niketu Iralu said government of India will not acknowledge or apologise. He said Nagas, therefore, have the right to make the government of India acknowledge these atrocities committed against the Naga people.
FNR was also reminded about the biblical basis of reconciliation that was preceded by confession of wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness from victims and vow never to repeat the same.
A participant asked FNR whether the underground groups will acknowledge their mistakes of killing their own brothers here in Nagaland, outside Nagaland or in the eastern part of the state?
The participant threw a challenge on FNR to take the initiative of reaching out to the different factions to honestly and openly admit their mistakes as until that was done, any future settlement will only lead to bloodshed.
To this, Akum Longchari said unless people feel safe, they will not speak the truth and this was what FNR was working on how to create collective safe space. The interaction lasted for over three hours.