The status quo ante, June 14, announced by the Union home minister, LK Advani, has now come to be another point of dispute. On the one hand, it has been charged to be a unilateral decision of the government of India without consultation with the leadership of the NSCN(IM), although it is clear the fact that the NSCN(IM) leadership took more than a cry after the announcement to make its claim that it never agreed to the decision, has put doubts on whether it was really a unilateral decision, even in the minds of many Naga intellectuals. They are now calling for a full detail of the Amsterdam meet preceding this decision so as to clear the doubts in the minds of the Nagas. But whatever the compulsions that led to the decision, we are among those who laud it. For apart from giving rooms for tempers to cool, it has also provided the precious time for a negotiated and consensual settlement to the emotive and explosive situation. Now is the time for the civil organizations to get down to the real business of sorting out differences. And differences and mutual grievances between the hills and valley, there are plenty, as is also evident from the many letters that we have published in the IFP already. Each side must learn to give ear, and more than that, be ready to empathize with the complaints of the other, for most of them are genuine in their own ways. The reasons attributed for these senses of injury, historical and immediate, nurtured by either side, however may need a lot of rationalizing, so as to put them in the correct perspective. But it is imperative that the right efforts be made now to straighten out these perspectives. It will not do any good to either side to take things for granted. Let it be understood by one and all that there can never be anything as a final history. The present crisis is still not at full rest, and we must realize the status quo ante, although welcome, is only a breathing space for one and all concerned to put each's house in order, so that the history that follows from here onwards is as per what is the consensual desire of the entire people of the land.

It is surprising, or should we say not surprising, that the intensity of the friction is far higher in Manipur than any other states that the Bangkok ceasefire agreement of June 14 covered. Even if Assam and Arunachal Pradesh remaining somewhat aloof, as is understandable, the curious thing is, even Nagaland seems luke warm. If agency reports are anything to go by, even the bandh called by the Naga Students Federation on August 3, was total in four hill districts of Manipur, but failed to evoke much response from many of the Nagaland districts. The bandh, it seems was called off ahead of schedule as per the advice of influential civil bodies. The doves amongst the civil society apparently have prevailed in Nagaland and they have chosen to seek peace in peaceful ways. Not on the Manipur side of the border. Our society today seems riven at the core, and each community seems eager to bare fangs at each other at any opportunity. The desperation seems much more here and this has made hawkish-tendencies overwhelming. Nothing can be more dangerous. Time for the peacemakers to assert themselves. While there is time, let honest people level communication of reason and heart begin. Let our doves overtake the hawks so that we are out of danger.