Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 2
Nagas are now talking about reconciliation and peace much more earnestly like they never did before. “Some are skeptical, some are critical and some are even scared ….but the vast majority is hopeful and looking forward towards the whole process”, stated a brief presentatio, “Nurturing Sustainable Relations”, during the 17th general conference of the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) on July 2 at Dimapur Town Hall. The paper was presented by Neingulo Krome, a member of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. Krome likewise noted that some of the “over-bearing barriers” have also been crossed in the recent months and that the message was clear “the leaders are now more or less ready to ‘talk it out’ and their people even more in earnest”.
It was observed that when Nagas fought together “heroically against a common enemy, even in death and in pain it brought out the best in everyone” but that “when we started fighting amongst ourselves, it brought out the worst in everyone and honour turned into shame and sacrifices became wastages”. Krome said the “cause also became the victim” and that in the midst of prevailing confusion many people warned of a possible outbreak of a ‘civil war’ if Nagas do not unite. The forum’s member however observed that Nagas have started talking to each other even with the differences that may still exist at different levels and at varying degrees. “And this has reduced the violence so much that the guns have now more or less fallen silent. The anger have subsided to a great extent and people are beginning to reason things out”, Krome stated in a positive light.
Towards nurturing sustainable relations, he said, the Nagas have walked extra miles to reach out to the people of India as well as to the different international communities. The ‘Journey of Conscience,’ Nagas’ call for peace, people-to-people dialogues, the quite diplomacies, the common journey of hope… are some of the few initiatives which Nagas have taken while also responding to Indian civil society initiatives side by side, Krome said.
“Not only these, but conversation are also being held with our neighbours too about the kind of relations that we can envision together while collectively searching for common answers to the many immediate problems confronting us”.
While thanking the leaders of the Dimapur Naga students’ Union, organizers and committee members on their concern for bringing Nagas together, Krome stated that the search for durable peace can happen only when human relations are established with respect, dignity and honour. “Therefore, today’s theme for discussion comes as most timely and relevant”, Krome stated while making an appeal that to translate the political rights of the Nagas into action, it will depend on the “collective wisdom of all our leaders and how we as the people for whom these rights were fought can support through consensual understanding”.
