The spate of factional killings spread across the Naga homeland during this year has become a matter of serious concern more so as violence has taken a tribal hue. Unless there is an immediate stop to this thoughtlessness on the part of underground leaders, the continuing battle will only perpetuate further feelings of anger and reprisal and deepen the malaise of hate campaign, which in turn will be detrimental to the future peaceful co-existence of the Nagas. With Christmas heralding the birth of the Prince of Peace round the corner, it will be only appropriate to suggest that the NSCN factions, who ever is willing to make the first move, offer a unilateral ceasefire and announce the cessation of all hostilities at least for a period of one month during December. Such noble and courageous gesture will no doubt enjoy wide public support of the Naga people. Similarly, once this offer for unconditional ceasefire has been made, people will have huge expectation for the other party to reciprocate likewise.
Similarly, the appeal made by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) asking people to pray for peace from December 1, 2006 to January 1, 2007 merits serious attention of the Christian community if at all healing and reconciliation of the Naga people is to remain a meaningful spiritual exercise. The NBCC has also appealed to all national workers to completely cease hostility and armed confrontation with effect from December 1, 2006 and pray for divine forgiveness and restoration of mutual trust and respect for one another. The call for a ceasefire has been a long pending demand of the people and honouring this, will in no way do any harm to the Naga cause but rather it will restore greater respectability and legitimacy to the aspiration and struggle of the Naga people.
However, for any meaningful ceasefire to actually come into force; both the NSCN groups should be willing partners and ready to share a common understanding in the interest of peace and also a shared responsibility in the interest of people’s genuine desire for peace in the land. It is therefore a sincere appeal to the leadership of both the NSCN groups to declare cessation of hostilities and allow the time for a peaceful celebration of Christmas and New-Year. Civil society groups such as the Naga Hoho and the Eastern Naga Peoples organization (ENPO) should also urgently take this initiative jointly and work on a formal appeal to the factions that would in a united way call for a suspension of hostilities (cease-fire) at least for the ensuing Christmas season. The birth of the Prince of Peace and occasion of heralding into a New Year provides a wonderful opportunity for all concerned to collectively work towards peace and harmony and restore the great legacy of the Naga cause.
