On The Road to Reconciliation: Repentance and Forgiveness
In our long struggle of safeguarding the political and historical rights of the Naga people, “hatred,” and “revenge,” and “division,” and “exclusion” have been weaved into the very existence of our lives and nation. On the Road to Reconciliation, we have come to realization that any epitaph of hatred and revenge must be honestly admitted and intentionally removed and the threats of violence humanely and willfully abolished.
Repentance:
Contrary to the false prophets’ message of repentance to strengthen the order of domination and subjugation, we acknowledge and confess that all forms of self-righteous declaration on repentance will judge and bind us. We affirm that to repent means to refuse to let the “seductiveness” of hatred and revenge guide our thoughts and actions and instead, be a new humanity under God’s Kingdom established in our hearts. Therefore, we admit that we have been the perpetrators of hatred and revenge in the name of political rightness divorcing belief from political means.
So also, as victims, we admit that we have been humiliated and hurt and suffered. But we also realize and confess that often times we have echoed the behavior of the perpetrators, letting us be structured in the “mirror image of enemy.” As perpetrators and victims, we repent of our reactive behavior either by claiming that we are not responsible for our actions or that such reactive response is necessary for our freedom.
We fully admit that if we do not repent today, we will continue to perpetuate the vicious cycle of perpetrators and victims typology. We also abhor any form of self-defense, and a thirst for revenge while we repent. Our genuine repentance, as the gift of God, calls us to transcend rationalization of our behavior and accuse others, and candidly and authentically take our wrongdoing upon ourselves. “All have sinned and have come short of God’s glory.”
Forgiveness:
As repentance, forgiveness is a constituent part of reconciliation. Is it possible to forgive, after all that one has suffered? How is this possible? We realize that forgiveness is a difficult process. Nevertheless, forgiveness does not mean that we accept the actions of the perpetrators. An atrocity is an atrocity committed to the other, and an inhuman action is an inhuman act committed to the victim. As victim we do not forget nor brush aside the atrocity and the inhuman act committed against us. But, we forgive our perpetrators, even if they are unaware, to free us from the haunting psychological torture within us. Clinging to revenge will only eternalize the power of the perpetrators by haunting us daily. Therefore, as victims, we forgive in order to liberate us from haunting—anger, shame and revenge. For our own sakes we understand that we need to forgive, so that our lives can be free from the tormenting power of the past.
Above all, in the cross of Jesus Christ, the guilty ones are not called to account and penalized. We are drawn to His matchless love and set free to be. We are enabled to forgive others because we ourselves have been forgiven. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5: 44).
The Chiang Mai VIII has strengthened the Naga Reconciliation process to a higher plane. While Mr. Hothrong Yimchungru, Kilo Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN, in his message from his Government to the FNR, stated to uphold and support “the spirit of reconciliation”.....and “shall remain steadfast.” The gathering on June 21, 2010, was led in the Spirit of Christ to a time of confession and seeking forgiveness. The Rev. V K Nuh, who refused to hearken to God’s message through the Naga Shisha Hoho, has personally time and again experienced the leading of God in the Journey of Common Hope. He said, “I confess before God and my fellow Nagas for being skeptical to the workings of God’s Spirit and I ask God’s forgiveness and also forgiveness from my people.”
The Convener, Dr. Wati Aier, confessed to the gathering that often times, he has been “self- dependent” forgetting to seek God’s mercy and grace. He also admitted of being intolerant, haughty, tempermental, and insensitive. “My words and actions have made many of my fellow Nagas angry and hurt. Therefore, in the name of God I confess all my wrongs before God and my fellow friends to forgive me.”
Mr. Nepuni Piku, FNR member, thanked God for His protecting his life and in “God’s name I harbor no ill feelings against the perpetrators who have harmed me and I have forgiven them.”
In a most powerful way, the words of Gen (Retd) VS Atem, emissary to the collective leaders of NSCN/GPRN brought the gathering to a pin drop silence and later on to tears of joy and hope. He said, “I was born a Naga and I will die a Naga. I am proud to fight for my motherland. I have been a soldier all my life and directly or indirectly, while fighting for the cause of the right of the Nagas, under my command as the Military Chief, I have caused untold sufferings of pain and tears to my fellow Nagas and for this I seek forgiveness from God and from my fellow Naga people…..Please! Please! Tell everybody you know about my request for forgiveness.”
Mr. Zhopra Vero, Vice-President, FGN/NNC, testified his tale of him being a target of assassination and had to seek refuge elsewhere. There he made up his mind to purchase arms and to take revenge on those who made an attempt on his life. But on the dawn of March 24, 2007 at 2:15am, God spoke to him, “not to take revenge” for it is God who says, “It is mine to avenge, I will repay.” That was the decisive moment for Mr. Vero who knelt down and sought forgiveness from God for his revengeful heart. He sincerely, in God’s name testified that “I have sought God’s forgiveness and I have also forgiven all those who made an attempt on my life.”
Our Journey of Common Hope still has miles to walk. In most extraordinary ways, God is doing some unexpected things in the midst of the Nagas. This points to hope! The FNR calls upon all Nagas to reciprocate the urgent calls from the Nagas, especially from leaders such as, Gen (Retd) V S Atem, and Mr. Zhopra Vero.
In the same spirit of reconciliation, the following signatories of Chiang Mai VIII wrote a letter to Mr. Kitovi Zhimomi, Hon’ble Ato Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN:
“We are writing to you at the end of eighth meeting in Chiang Mai in our Journey of Common Hope, to say we have had a fruitful meeting, but that we have also greatly missed your presence and constructive contributions. A number of practical proposals and recommendations have emerged, and we look forward to sharing our thinking with you in the near future for your consideration. Your very positive and encouraging message and expression of support for the process of reconciliation and the work of the FNR were warmly appreciated. We look forward cooperation and to strengthening our joint work.”
(Signed June 24, 2010 by Zhopra Vero, Convener, JWG, FGN/NNC; Gen. V S Atem, Convener, JWG, NSCN/GPRN; Rev. Ken Sehested, American Baptist, USA, Rev. Daniel Buttry, American Baptist, USA; Dr. Jan Arriens, On Behalf of the Naga Quaker Group, UK, and Wati Aier, Convener, FNR)
May God give us the courage to be and the strength for tomorrow.
Forum for Naga Reconciliation
