North East News Agency

SLOWLY but steadily reconciliation move in Nagaland is gaining ground. In an effort to bring all Naga underground groups together and put an end to fratricidal killings, Naga Hoho, apex body of all the Naga tribes, has decided to form a committee, which will include prominent Naga leaders- be it from the Church or the political bandwagon.

Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Angami said that the committee would be instituted after taking  into consideration the views of federating tribes.

Meanwhile, former Nagaland chief minister and presently Governor of Goa,  S. C. Jamir has also strongly advocated for reconciliation. Mr. Jamir at a recent function in Mon district of Nagaland remarked that Nagas should strive to bring their brethren on one platform to create a congenial atmosphere to solve  their problems.

India can offer many things to the Nagas, but cannot offer peace, which should come from the mind and souls of every Naga,’’ Mr. Jamir said at the function.

On the other hand, expressing aversion and anguish over the situation in Phek District, Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA) has strongly denounced the unprecedented intrusion and movement of rival NSCN cadres, resulting in clashes, causing human casualties and hampering day to day activities of the people. Taking strong exception to these developments CMA demanded that the NSCN factions should listen to the cries of suffering people.

“Behold our cries! In the name of and for the reason that each and every national worker is brought into this world from the womb of a mother! Listen to the voice of your mothers, henceforth shed no more blood!” a statement issued by CMA appealed.

CMA president further urged that “CMA unequivocally curse and condemn the perpetrators of Porba, Wazeho and Yoruba clashes involving human lives, endangering the lives of the innocent villagers and peace-abiding citizens.” Raising its objections, It maintained that since the first day of March till date the presence of the NSCN (IM) cadres in the areas of Phek village had caused tension in the whole of Phek area, villages and district headquarters as well. Revealing that armed cadres were moving outside their designated camps in full combat fatigues, CMA described it as a blatant breach of ceasefire ground-rules.

Claiming that under such tense and precarious circumstances normal day-to-day chores of the common people is being affected as even schools and colleges stopped for days, CMA said that “after all in the absence of a free and congenial environment it is in vain to either teach or learn. Many government offices and employees choose to abstain from attending duties in a bid to avoid harassment.” It lamented over the fact that even farmers are being restricted by either of the two factions from sowing seeds. The mothers’ association further alleged that poor villagers were forced to “contribute” either in cash or in kind as rations. “Nagas are confronted with the menace of an alien culture by way of demanding others’ property as though it belonged to oneself. Every single paisa that a person earns is worth his sweat, toil and labor and therefore one has every right to invest it and not succumb to the irrational demands from cadres. One should be ashamed to be branded as parasites in one’s own society” the CMA noted with anguish.

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