How to put Naga House in order?
Irresponsibility and purposelessness should make way for a commitment that draws on the inner strength of the Naga polity.

How to put the Naga house in order? This is question that has been agitating the Naga society these days as a final and lasting solution to the decades old political   problem appears in sight. If the Nagas are not to be overwhelmed,  if lawlessness is to give place to order and if progress is to be ushered in for heralding the long over due bright tomorrow, irresponsibility and purposelessness should make way for a commitment that draws on the inner strength of the Naga polity.

“The Church in Nagaland sees that the Naga struggle will destroy itself and the Nagas unless the damaged human relationships that have pitted tribes, factions and parties against one another are addressed, healed and restored,” says Rev Kari Longchar, Director, Peace Affairs at the powerful Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC).

Kari outlined the NBCC position at a three–day seminar on “Peace and Reconciliation”. He and other speakers stressed on the  role of Church in shaping the thinking, values and living of all Nagas, besides pointing out that the    Church should attempt to clarify    its position on the moral, spiritual and theological issues raised by the Naga struggle.

The Reverend touched upon ‘widening ramifications’ of the Naga crisis that are becoming apparent across the North-East. He noted that Nagas have waged for over half a century an immensely costly political struggle.

Said Rev Kari, “The Church recognised that the struggle has been to defend Naga right of choice for self-determination given to them by their history. It (the struggle) is not a secessionist, separatist or anti-India struggle. The Church opines that the settlement of the Indo-Naga question has to give full recognition of this unique fact”.

For the sake of the Nagas of today and tomorrow whose fate hangs in the balance, the Church is undertaking its priestly and prophetic role to do what is long over due, he said.

“Our prayers, indeed the thought of all Nagas”, the Church leader observed,  “is to establish a common level field of transparency, recognition of one another, understanding and compassion, to unlock the doors to forgiveness and reconciliation”. His paper, while acknowledging the importance of current ceasefire and the ongoing talks, said that a new opportunity for a negotiated settlement is knocking at the door. It has come at immense cost and it should not be missed.

And then as if to clarify where the Church stands on the talks issue, the Kari paper declares: “The Church holds the considered view that should a settlement be achieved between Delhi and the NSCN (IM) alone, leaving out NSCN (K), NNC-Addino, NNC-Merhepfü and Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) and if it should not be full sovereignty, the worst tendencies in human nature are most likely to be provoked, and a nightmare of suppression and vengeful politics, possibly  worse than what Nagas had experienced so far, will descend on the people….”

The Kari thesis immediately came under fire. “The Church should not take sides”, said one speaker administering a mild snub in a mild snub.  Said another, “the Church should not remain a mere spectator to the peace and reconciliation process. It should be fully involved.” Niketu Iralu, convener, Reconciliation Committee, Naga Hoho and member, International Council MRA, took a different line. He said the Church has certain weakness like lack of philosophy of life. He also said there is a need of a role model in the Naga society.

Niketu presented an in-depth analytical paper- “Reconciliation through Healing”. He cautioned that the section of Nagas who work for reconciliation and offer healing touch must not underestimate its need to be pure and clean in its motives.

“If we are to have reconciliation, peace, unity, stability and development, we have to accept to pay the price”, he observed; the price, according to him, is “costly transparency” and he defines this as ‘being simply honest without any explanation or justification’. “Reconciliation will release the spirit and the soul of the Nagas, it has to start with transparency and healing,”  Niketu avers.

NBCC and Nagaland Development Outreach jointly organised the seminar for a brain storming session. M Vero, President, Naga Hoho, set the tone for the discussions saying that everyone has a responsibility to take the latest round of talks to their fruitful end in the larger interests of Naga society and peace in this border state.

The ‘Federal Government of Nagaland’ (FGN) sent a message opining that the ongoing talks between the Government and the NSCN (IM) are nothing to do with “Naga national issue.” The ‘FGN President’ Brig (Retd) S Singnya described the “so-called cease-fire between the NSCN (IM) and Government of India (GOI) and the ongoing peace talks had sadly confused some of our people.”

S Singnya said that Indo-Naga case should be settled sooner or later on the basis of right and reasoning. The FGN Chief expressed confidence that the Nagas would overcome their internal differences over time.  He hoped the Nagas would learn to forgive past mistakes and follies and would be able to live together as a people   and concertedly work for their national progress. He paid rich tribute to all those who had laid down their lives for the cause of the Naga movement.

NNC President, I. Panger,  too paid tributes to the martyrs; and put in the usual caveat of his: “no permanent settlement can be arrived at by piecemeal means.”

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