Dimapur, Oct 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s ‘Healing and Reconciliation Movement’, received a first hiccup today with the NSCN-K making clear that it would not meet the Church until and unless its statement on the ‘Quit Notice’ is withdrawn and that the term ‘Terrorism/terrorists’ is defined.
NSCN-K Kilonser AZ Jami said that the Council of Kilonsers, GPRN has written to the NBCC that the Church’s recent statement terming the ‘Quit Notice’ issued to the Tangkhul Community as “unchristian” and “shortsightedness’ should be withdrawn first before any meeting for talks as such. “There will be no talks or meeting until and unless their statement is withdrawn. Our stand is firm and clear” said the Kilonser over phone. The NSCN-K also questioned the ‘intentions’ of the Church and demanded a clear response for the grounds behind issuing the statement which, according to the Kilonser, makes them “skeptical”.
“We are skeptical about the NBCC’s intentions. We are writing an official letter to them. They have issued a statement on the quit notice and termed it as ‘unchristian’ and ‘shortsightedness’. If the quit notice is unchristian and shortsighted, then this means that the terrorism, killings and crimes against the Nagas by the Isak-Khodao is Christian and farsighted” said the Kilonser while making clear that the NBCC statement is “harmful”. “If there should be any meeting or talks, let them first withdraw their statement and we will meet them. We will talk and sort out everything. But let them withdraw the statement first” the NSCN-K made clear.
In the same vein, member of the Ceasefire Supervisory Board, Kughalo Mulatuno while demanding withdrawal of the “unchristian” statement, asked the Church to define the term “Terrorists”. The member strongly held that a church that “preach peace” should ‘stick to the Bible’ but should it address political questions, perspective should be clear-cut. “Arson, rape, kidnappings and killings by the I-K group is Christian and farsighted? What were NBCC doing when crimes were committed against the Nagas by the I-K from 1993 to 2006? There have been clashes but the NBCC never condemned (the NSCN-IM)” said the member while reminding that after the Mokokchung incident it was the NBCC which wrote to the Government of India to abrogate the ceasefire and termed the NSCN-K as ‘terrorists.’
“If a church does not know what it is doing, does not know truth, does not know peace, how will they know which elements makes peace and truth?” asked Mulatuno. “They should stick to the bible. They should define what terrorism according to the NBCC means. It is time to differentiate between milk and water. There will be no meeting if the statement is not withdrawn” he said. He reminded even the Bible teaches that ‘if there is a log in your brother’s eye, remove the plank from your own eyes before removing your brother’s’.
Mention may be made here that the NBCC September 29 proposed a series of round-table Kilonser-level talks, pursuing its ‘Healing and Reconciliation Movement’ to bring the warring factions to dialogue. The NBCC was slated to meet NSCN-K leaders in first week of October.
