Naga Reconciliation and Unity

Dr. R.B. Thohe Pou *

Recently people have started talking only about the Naga reconciliation and unity – whether they support or against the reconciliation. Reconciliation, reconciliation, reconciliation ...echoes the beautiful hills of Nagalim – even the illiterate people also started to utter the word 'RECONCILIATION'. But now where is the Naga Reconciliation leading to? Excuse me! Some of the people may be unwilling to use the name Nagalim but I would use the name Nagalim as it is more appropriate and applicable than Nagaland to represent the "Entire Naga inhabited areas".

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) initiated by Dr. Wati Aier is appreciated by the Nagas and non-Ngas and now recognized by the world Baptist Churches – the Rights Award is also to be awarded to him. However one should not forget that there are also many people who are covetous of the Naga Reconciliation and Unity.

Do you support and give solidarity for Naga Reconciliation? Indeed it is a good gesture that the highest level meeting of different Naga factions was held under FNR leadership and now many people are anxiously expecting peace and love to restore in Nagalim. About the fratricide and reconciliation in Nagalim – there are different school of thoughts or perspectives.

We should not be amazed to learn but there are also people who don't want Naga to have reconciliation and unity; they want fratricide to be continued in Nagalim. The deferment of recent reconciliation meeting is welcomed and appreciated by those people who are against the reconciliation and unity. There is another group who are intentionally ignores or unconcern about reconciliation and unity.

About the solidarity and perspective on fratricide and reconciliation in Nagalim – we may broadly divide into 3 School of thoughts or groups as –
1. Pro-reconciliation (those who support reconciliation)
2. Anti-reconciliation (those who against reconciliation)
3. Unconcern about Reconciliation (those who are unconcern about reconciliation)

1.Pro-reconciliation – Those who support Naga reconciliation and want fratricide to be ceased in Nagalim. It is no only the Naga but the non-Nagas who support the Naga reconciliation for different reasons. Solving the Naga political problem would stimulate to ease the insurgent problem in northeastern region. Once there is reconciliation and all the factions are united – there will be love, peace and development in the region. Nagas have witness bloodshed since time immemorial and now the Nagas want peace in the Nagalim. When the people are united – they become strong and confident but once it is divided – they are nothing. The different faction coming together for reconciliation and unity is very appreciable and will frighten the rivals and enemies of the Nagas.

At this juncture it is important to retrospect their ideology and purpose of their mission as a national worker. The deep differences between different factional leaders need to be solved whether the Naga political solution comes now or later. Will there be another blunder like Shillong Accord and 16 points agreement if the Naga factional leaders and civil leaders are not reconciled and united? The Naga national workers represents for the Naga people but if the different Naga factions are not reconciled and united, many people may question as, who 'truly' represents for the Nagas to solve the Naga political problem?

Can the Naga national workers give up their differences for the sake of the Nagas' dream and aspirations? We know that Naga national workers have the same dream and aspiration for the Nagas but many people may again question as, why there are lots of differences and bitterness between different factions? Is this due to their pride and struggle of leadership or just a misunderstanding among themselves? We may be just blaming the British's 'Divide and rule Policy' or Indian 'divide and rule policy' but the Nagas are practicing 'divide and rule policy' in real life and we need to eradicate this divide and rule policy from Nagalim through reconciliation and reasoning together.

Let us also ponder on Naga political solution without reconciliation and unity among the different Naga factions. Who will be the main leader in Nagalim if the Naga political problem is resolved in current situation? I may be pessimistic but I can vision only bloodshed and assassination without reconciliation when the Naga political problem is solved. Naga political solution is important as Naga reconciliation and unity and no one should assume that solving Naga political problem is more important than reconciliation and vice versa. For me solving the Naga political problem and reconciliation among the different factions is equally important.

2. Anti-reconciliation group – are those who are against reconciliation and want fratricide to be continued in Nagalim. This school of thoughts can be from the Naga leaders, laymen, factional leaders and other non-Nagas. Some of the Naga and non-Nagas may be in euphoria on deferment of Naga highest level meeting as many people may be against the Naga reconciliation and unity. They may also may want the Naga underground to be annihilated each other and emerge a new society in the region without insurgent. Many people are happy and supporting the fratricide and division among Naga factions and civil leaders. In this Naga transitional phase – those who are against the reconciliation may want to break down the earlier Covenant of Reconciliation (COR).

There are people who support the eastern Nagas to have separate State and the Southern Nagalim to be separated from main Nagalim. They also want the different Naga factions to be divided and continue to kill each other. Many people want Nagas to be divided based on tribes and fight against each other. They may wish the different factions to kill each other and want the remnant leader reign in Nagalim.

Solving Naga political problem can be in two ways – the honorable solution through peace talks and by annihilating all the underground. One of the main principles and desire of Anti-reconciliation people may be – the Nagas to kill each other and the remnant factional leaders may reign in Nagalim. They also want Naga people no to get an honorable solution from the present peace talks or in future peace talks. Some of the anti-reconciliation people also may be awaiting Muivah, Isak Swu, Khaplang and Kitovi Zhimomi to die due to their ageing or in factional clash so that there may be no Naga insurgent leader in the future whether the Naga political problem is solved or not.

3. Unconcern about reconciliation – those who are unconcern about the reconciliation. We have also the people who have no concern about Naga reconciliation and unity in addition to those people who support and against the reconciliation. Firstly, some of them avoid the issue intentionally as they become very individualistic and have more concern for their own family or career in life. They also don't want to read any news related to Naga problems and issue. Secondly, some of them have no interest on Naga problem and issues. Yes, of course no everyone will become the leader, politician, social worker, writer or preacher. Thirdly, some of them are fed up with insurgent activities and long pending Naga political problem.

All those people who are no concern about the reconciliation and unity can support or against the reconciliation depending on leaders of the Nagas and the leaders should snub anyone leader or tribe when it comes to take any final verdict on Nagas political solution. The present Naga leaders also may need to reason, analyze the cause of problem together. Do you want the anti-reconciliation people to win or you want to defeat them through successful reconciliation and unity? The Covenant of Reconciliation (COR) will be possible only when they abide the COR, forget and forgive their differences in the name of God.

(The views express above does not represent any tribe or organization) -