Following-up the landmark World Baptist Alliance General Council Resolution on Naga Reconciliation at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 4-9, 2011, five renown Baptist leaders have written to Naga leaders challenging them to make their pledge to Naga Reconciliation a fulfilled reality. The five Baptist leaders are Neville Callam, Raimundu Barreto, Jr., Kenneth L. Sehested, Dan Buttry and John A. Sundquist.
In their letter dated August 4, 2011, the Baptist leaders sent separate letters to Isak Swu, Th. Muivah, SS. Khaplang, Gen. Khole Konyak, N. Kitovit Zhimomi, Brig (retd) Singnya and Zhopra Vero. All the letters were copied to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and the contents identical.
While encouraged by the continuing progress of the Naga Reconciliation process, the Baptist leaders applauded the increasing role and commitment of the Naga leaders to the Covenant of Reconciliation. They implored the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation to participate in the Reconciliation meeting of the Naga leaders facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation as early as possible. Their letter emphasized that the participation of Naga leaders in the reconciliation meeting would be central in reaching a sustainable reconciliation agreement among the Naga groups.
Excerpts of the letter read as:
As individuals who have followed your story, the history and aspirations of the Naga people is very dear to us. The long years of political strife and the internal violence among Nagas have caused much suffering. But we now sense the growing opportunities made possible by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for Nagas to take bold steps into a new era of partnership. For this to materialize, Naga political leaders must sit down together and agree to forge a new understanding and chart a new destiny of respect and freedom.
We the undersigned implore you, as a signatory of the Covenant of Reconciliation to participate in the Reconciliation meeting of the Naga leaders facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation as early as possible. We believe your participation in the meeting is central in reaching a sustainable reconciliation agreement among the Naga groups.
You have been a valuable advocate for your people and have made many personal sacrifices, we now urge you to be a torch bearer for Naga Reconciliation.
During the last three and a half years, the Naga people have time and again called upon the Naga leaders to meet and consummate the reconciliation process. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation must place on record that, on September 25, 2008 at the Sumi Baptist Church Dimapur, 47 Naga organizations and the Church; on February 21-22, 2009 at Kohima during the Naga Peace Convention, 45 Naga organizations and the Church; on August 26, 2009 at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur, 46 Naga organizations and the Church; and on November 18, 2010, 40 Naga organizations and the Church at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur have called for the immediate meeting of top leaders of the Naga political groups to meet for reconciliation on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas.
At this time when Nagas are undergoing a period of uncertainty and insecurity about their future, it is only imperative that the Naga leaders need to bestow confidence and provide a clear direction and pathway to a shared Naga future. It is now time for the Naga leaders to respond to the call to attend the reconciliation meeting of the top leaders. It is now time to speak out, before your silence is misunderstood by the people.
Forum for Naga Reconciliation
In their letter dated August 4, 2011, the Baptist leaders sent separate letters to Isak Swu, Th. Muivah, SS. Khaplang, Gen. Khole Konyak, N. Kitovit Zhimomi, Brig (retd) Singnya and Zhopra Vero. All the letters were copied to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and the contents identical.
While encouraged by the continuing progress of the Naga Reconciliation process, the Baptist leaders applauded the increasing role and commitment of the Naga leaders to the Covenant of Reconciliation. They implored the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation to participate in the Reconciliation meeting of the Naga leaders facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation as early as possible. Their letter emphasized that the participation of Naga leaders in the reconciliation meeting would be central in reaching a sustainable reconciliation agreement among the Naga groups.
Excerpts of the letter read as:
As individuals who have followed your story, the history and aspirations of the Naga people is very dear to us. The long years of political strife and the internal violence among Nagas have caused much suffering. But we now sense the growing opportunities made possible by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for Nagas to take bold steps into a new era of partnership. For this to materialize, Naga political leaders must sit down together and agree to forge a new understanding and chart a new destiny of respect and freedom.
We the undersigned implore you, as a signatory of the Covenant of Reconciliation to participate in the Reconciliation meeting of the Naga leaders facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation as early as possible. We believe your participation in the meeting is central in reaching a sustainable reconciliation agreement among the Naga groups.
You have been a valuable advocate for your people and have made many personal sacrifices, we now urge you to be a torch bearer for Naga Reconciliation.
During the last three and a half years, the Naga people have time and again called upon the Naga leaders to meet and consummate the reconciliation process. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation must place on record that, on September 25, 2008 at the Sumi Baptist Church Dimapur, 47 Naga organizations and the Church; on February 21-22, 2009 at Kohima during the Naga Peace Convention, 45 Naga organizations and the Church; on August 26, 2009 at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur, 46 Naga organizations and the Church; and on November 18, 2010, 40 Naga organizations and the Church at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur have called for the immediate meeting of top leaders of the Naga political groups to meet for reconciliation on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas.
At this time when Nagas are undergoing a period of uncertainty and insecurity about their future, it is only imperative that the Naga leaders need to bestow confidence and provide a clear direction and pathway to a shared Naga future. It is now time for the Naga leaders to respond to the call to attend the reconciliation meeting of the top leaders. It is now time to speak out, before your silence is misunderstood by the people.
Forum for Naga Reconciliation
