By : RS Jassal/IFP
1. Naga Reconciliation emerged with big ‘Bang-bang’ on 20th December 2001 at the combined Naga National Reconciliation Function held at Kohima with 132 NAGA leaders representing 35 Tribes/ Sub tribes from Manipur, Arunachal, Assam, including western Myanmar beside Nagaland . The leaders took a solemn pledge which read as follows:-
“On this historic day, the Twentieth of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and one before all Naga gathered here, representing our people from all the Naga country, on behalf of my tribe, I pledge that:-
i) Nagas are one and we are one family. We will work towards the Nagas growing as a people.
ii) I hereby state that we will start a process whereby we will truthfully examine the ways and areas in which we may have hurt others so that, the needed changes may begin with us leading to practical steps of restrictions to make healing lasting.
iii) I affirm that we will go beyond seeing only where others have hurt us and be ready to see where we too may have provoked them to hurt us so that forgiving and being forgiven will become possible.
iv) I shall undertake to enlist the full support of my tribe for the Naga Reconciliation Process. We will do all we can to strengthen it. So help us God.”
And thus a need to form a committee was established.
2. After a lapse of one year, the second meeting (20th December, 2002) was a combined Naga national Reconciliation Anniversary Function attended by Naga Hoho, Church Leaders, Nagaland Christian Forum, Naga Students Federation, Naga Mothers Association, NPHMR etc., at Kohima. In this meeting it was proposed to authorize the Naga Hoho and NCF to draft a new committee to limit its size and to raise the status to Commission and they be answerable to Naga Hoho and NCF only, which was approved and the names of the following members appeared in Newspapers viz.; Mr. Niketu Iralu, Convener, Rev. Dr. Tuisem A.Shishak, Secretary, Rev. Kari Longchar, Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh, Mr. Charles Chasie Rev. Shiwoto Sumi & Rev. Dr. Wati Aier. Thus Naga Reconciliation Commission came into form on 9th April, 2003. The mission statement of this commission issued on 23rd May stated “to realize the reconciliation among Naga people as declared on 20th December 2001”. So the validity was renewed as it was to carry forward the original pledge as said in para 1.
The members met on 21st April, 2003 at Dimapur. Three Organizations viz., NSF, NMA and NPHMR withdrew. Thus one to one functional relationship between Commission and Naga Hoho. NCF closed in. The Commission asked for functional autonomy. Terms of reference were made and the first clause said, “The Commission shall have autonomy of functioning in close relation to the committee of the NH and NCF on reconciliation in matters of policy.” The second clause allowed the expansion of Commission members by NH + NCF. The commission was duly commissioned on 24th May 2003 at a simple ceremony at the NBCC office in Kohima with solemn prayer for success. It built up lots of hopes for putting and end to mutual and internecine killings.
Non-Starter :
24th May, the Commission was commissioned and 26th May comes news from an NGO that Commission had done nothing and was a non-starter. On 26th May, 2003 the objection came from NSCN (IM) that no cooperation with the Chairman and Secretary would be given. Other five members’ reposed faith in them and ultimately the Commission came to collapse and this is what it is today, with all members resigned. It is a big loss to the cause. The entire episode has reminded the happening of 1963 around the period of creation of Nagaland. Allegations and counter allegation leading to creation of Nagaland and elimination of star- personalities responsible for creation of Nagaland. Silver lining exists today in reconciliation effort that A.Z. Phizo is being taken as undisputed leader by all factions. The thread for unification can be picked up from here in a renewed effort without castigating or excommunicating of important personalities. The opportunity provided by CF situation must be fully exploited for free, frank and open consultation as to how to reach at an honorable political solution of this vexed problem. The march of events from the beginning have put the Naga tribes of various origins at a very respectable and enviable position. For the sacrifices of the national workers, pragmatic personalities we call them moderates and many church leaders we call them visionaries are worth recalling, than affixing blames on stray and sundry for the parts left unachieved. In the maters of negotiation, it is commonly understood that ‘gives & takes’ do take place. So the past leaders contributions need recognition than dumping them as reactionaries or traitors.
What is Reconciliation?
It is to reconcile to accept, adjust to, resign yourself to, submit to facts the facts that revolve around truth. Truth is difficult to speak. It requires lots of moral strength to speak truth. It is true; it needs double the courage to accept the truth. And superlatively, it is extremely difficult to act on truth. And in this case chronology of events starting from British Rule has to be kept in mind. To quote an example, most of the Naga historians, political activists say Nagas were never under British Rule, but, in the current Zalukie Zangde Manglamukh land issue, village chief has upheld his authority on land allotted to him by a DC of Naga Hills in 1907, named as A.N. David or Davi as legal claim as appeared in local papers ex Dimapur.
“It appears most of the people have confused the reconciliation Process with the Peace Process Reconciliation has to do with forgiveness and healing, it is about repairing and restoring damaged relationship while Peace Process is about negotiation and settlement – the one is moral and spiritual , the other is political. The two are not synonymous although both the Reconciliation Process and the Peace Process will involve and include all the people. In a sense, it may be said that the two are two sides of the same coin. The reconciliation process therefore can only strengthen and affirm the peace process.” It is therefore emphasized, political reconciliation may occur or may not, may take time as it is evident with Padmanabhaia- Collective leadership talk, but reconciliation is to understand urgent need of the Naga among Nagas to stop killings which can be achieved if sincere efforts are put in by the Commission. But unfortunately they are not facilitated to work. It is just like putting horse behind the cart. How cart will move?
Conclusion :
Mutual doubts, suspicion, speculation apart, the qualification of members are extremely good and they are men of learning, understanding and integrity. Those who oppose may reconsider their stand in the name of peace and loyalties to solemn pledge taken by all Naga leaders. More members may be added specially those who can act as facilitators to bring leaders at different dissent closer. In any case what is so good about KILLINGS. In this age of globalization, can’t we take a pledge not to kill as service to humanity in the name of Prince of Peace. Ego is good if it is constructive, but highly devastating otherwise. Chiten Jamir & Mr. Vero may be names worth consideration for adding in Commission. Atmosphere is needed to be created so that intellectuals can have exchanges of views in open and unsuspecting manner. Castigations, excommunications, doubting, casting aspersions will not bring people closer.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/ArticleFull.asp?ArticleID=174
1. Naga Reconciliation emerged with big ‘Bang-bang’ on 20th December 2001 at the combined Naga National Reconciliation Function held at Kohima with 132 NAGA leaders representing 35 Tribes/ Sub tribes from Manipur, Arunachal, Assam, including western Myanmar beside Nagaland . The leaders took a solemn pledge which read as follows:-
“On this historic day, the Twentieth of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and one before all Naga gathered here, representing our people from all the Naga country, on behalf of my tribe, I pledge that:-
i) Nagas are one and we are one family. We will work towards the Nagas growing as a people.
ii) I hereby state that we will start a process whereby we will truthfully examine the ways and areas in which we may have hurt others so that, the needed changes may begin with us leading to practical steps of restrictions to make healing lasting.
iii) I affirm that we will go beyond seeing only where others have hurt us and be ready to see where we too may have provoked them to hurt us so that forgiving and being forgiven will become possible.
iv) I shall undertake to enlist the full support of my tribe for the Naga Reconciliation Process. We will do all we can to strengthen it. So help us God.”
And thus a need to form a committee was established.
2. After a lapse of one year, the second meeting (20th December, 2002) was a combined Naga national Reconciliation Anniversary Function attended by Naga Hoho, Church Leaders, Nagaland Christian Forum, Naga Students Federation, Naga Mothers Association, NPHMR etc., at Kohima. In this meeting it was proposed to authorize the Naga Hoho and NCF to draft a new committee to limit its size and to raise the status to Commission and they be answerable to Naga Hoho and NCF only, which was approved and the names of the following members appeared in Newspapers viz.; Mr. Niketu Iralu, Convener, Rev. Dr. Tuisem A.Shishak, Secretary, Rev. Kari Longchar, Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh, Mr. Charles Chasie Rev. Shiwoto Sumi & Rev. Dr. Wati Aier. Thus Naga Reconciliation Commission came into form on 9th April, 2003. The mission statement of this commission issued on 23rd May stated “to realize the reconciliation among Naga people as declared on 20th December 2001”. So the validity was renewed as it was to carry forward the original pledge as said in para 1.
The members met on 21st April, 2003 at Dimapur. Three Organizations viz., NSF, NMA and NPHMR withdrew. Thus one to one functional relationship between Commission and Naga Hoho. NCF closed in. The Commission asked for functional autonomy. Terms of reference were made and the first clause said, “The Commission shall have autonomy of functioning in close relation to the committee of the NH and NCF on reconciliation in matters of policy.” The second clause allowed the expansion of Commission members by NH + NCF. The commission was duly commissioned on 24th May 2003 at a simple ceremony at the NBCC office in Kohima with solemn prayer for success. It built up lots of hopes for putting and end to mutual and internecine killings.
Non-Starter :
24th May, the Commission was commissioned and 26th May comes news from an NGO that Commission had done nothing and was a non-starter. On 26th May, 2003 the objection came from NSCN (IM) that no cooperation with the Chairman and Secretary would be given. Other five members’ reposed faith in them and ultimately the Commission came to collapse and this is what it is today, with all members resigned. It is a big loss to the cause. The entire episode has reminded the happening of 1963 around the period of creation of Nagaland. Allegations and counter allegation leading to creation of Nagaland and elimination of star- personalities responsible for creation of Nagaland. Silver lining exists today in reconciliation effort that A.Z. Phizo is being taken as undisputed leader by all factions. The thread for unification can be picked up from here in a renewed effort without castigating or excommunicating of important personalities. The opportunity provided by CF situation must be fully exploited for free, frank and open consultation as to how to reach at an honorable political solution of this vexed problem. The march of events from the beginning have put the Naga tribes of various origins at a very respectable and enviable position. For the sacrifices of the national workers, pragmatic personalities we call them moderates and many church leaders we call them visionaries are worth recalling, than affixing blames on stray and sundry for the parts left unachieved. In the maters of negotiation, it is commonly understood that ‘gives & takes’ do take place. So the past leaders contributions need recognition than dumping them as reactionaries or traitors.
What is Reconciliation?
It is to reconcile to accept, adjust to, resign yourself to, submit to facts the facts that revolve around truth. Truth is difficult to speak. It requires lots of moral strength to speak truth. It is true; it needs double the courage to accept the truth. And superlatively, it is extremely difficult to act on truth. And in this case chronology of events starting from British Rule has to be kept in mind. To quote an example, most of the Naga historians, political activists say Nagas were never under British Rule, but, in the current Zalukie Zangde Manglamukh land issue, village chief has upheld his authority on land allotted to him by a DC of Naga Hills in 1907, named as A.N. David or Davi as legal claim as appeared in local papers ex Dimapur.
“It appears most of the people have confused the reconciliation Process with the Peace Process Reconciliation has to do with forgiveness and healing, it is about repairing and restoring damaged relationship while Peace Process is about negotiation and settlement – the one is moral and spiritual , the other is political. The two are not synonymous although both the Reconciliation Process and the Peace Process will involve and include all the people. In a sense, it may be said that the two are two sides of the same coin. The reconciliation process therefore can only strengthen and affirm the peace process.” It is therefore emphasized, political reconciliation may occur or may not, may take time as it is evident with Padmanabhaia- Collective leadership talk, but reconciliation is to understand urgent need of the Naga among Nagas to stop killings which can be achieved if sincere efforts are put in by the Commission. But unfortunately they are not facilitated to work. It is just like putting horse behind the cart. How cart will move?
Conclusion :
Mutual doubts, suspicion, speculation apart, the qualification of members are extremely good and they are men of learning, understanding and integrity. Those who oppose may reconsider their stand in the name of peace and loyalties to solemn pledge taken by all Naga leaders. More members may be added specially those who can act as facilitators to bring leaders at different dissent closer. In any case what is so good about KILLINGS. In this age of globalization, can’t we take a pledge not to kill as service to humanity in the name of Prince of Peace. Ego is good if it is constructive, but highly devastating otherwise. Chiten Jamir & Mr. Vero may be names worth consideration for adding in Commission. Atmosphere is needed to be created so that intellectuals can have exchanges of views in open and unsuspecting manner. Castigations, excommunications, doubting, casting aspersions will not bring people closer.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/ArticleFull.asp?ArticleID=174
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