NJCF seeks 2-month truce in Kuki-Tangkhul violence

Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has made “an urgent appeal for cessation of violence” between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities in Manipur, calling for a two-month period of peace from May 5 to July 5, 2026.
In a statement, NJCF president Rev. Dr. N. Paphino; vice president Rev. Dr. Vevo Phesao; general secretary Rev. Moses Murry and Church coordinator and Relations Rev. Dr. Hotokhu P. Zhimomi said said the conflict had become a grave challenge to livelihood and peace, particularly affecting children, women and men of both communities.
It stated that narratives shaped by conflicting parties and individuals outside the communities had allowed each side to justify its own interpretation, perpetuating division and overshadowing shared humanity.
The forum said the most urgent need today was transformation and that both communities must give peace a chance.
Appealing in the name of Christ, NJCF beseeched the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities to cease all forms of violence during the stated period, under certain conditions.
It stated that all parties should immediately suspend the use of arms and confrontations during the period of cessation.
It also urged both communities to refrain from inflammatory statements, propaganda or the spread of divisive narratives through print, broadcast or digital media, and said media engagement should focus on peacebuilding, reconciliation and dignity of all persons. It further called on both communities to dismantle prejudices and stereotypes that fuel mistrust, and urged leaders, elders and youth to promote dialogue, empathy and mutual respect in public and private spaces.
NJCF emphasised protection of vulnerable groups, including children, women and the elderly. It said the cessation was not merely a pause but a step toward transformation and urged both communities to use the period to explore pathways of reconciliation, healing and long-term peace. It also stated that public movements should not be obstructed and that special measures should be taken to ensure safety of school children, farmers and travellers so that normal life could continue without fear or disruption.
NJCF affirmed that peace was possible through humility and mutual respect and described the cessation of violence as a commitment to reconciliation and human dignity.