Chizokho Vero
Kohima | November 23
“Naga people want peace, unity and reconciliation and wanted to live as one people.” That was what the Peace Journey’s team gathered from series of meetings with various civil society organizations and individuals during its 12 days ‘peace journey’ covering 9 districts in Nagaland and Manipur, November 10-21 last. The team members communicated this message to media persons here today on completion of its ‘peace journey phase 1- Nagaland and Manipur’.
Rev. L. Kari Longchar Ao, Director of NBCC’s Peace Committee, who was also one of the members of the team, said that the journey was to spread the message of love, peace and reconciliation, not only amongst the Nagas, but also to neighboring communities. “To have peace in our land, we have to have peace among ourselves,” he said. Sharing their experiences, the team members said the overwhelming opinion was to bring the Nagas closer. “This is the desire of the people. People really wanted peace,” said another participant.
The journey covered a distance of 1467 km touching nine districts- Dimapur, Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Kohima (Nagaland) and Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati (Manipur), where the team met representatives of six tribes in Nagaland and 16 tribes in Manipur. They had also met with 65 civil organizations during the peace journey.
The 11 members who joined the Peace Journey includes; Rev. L. Kari Longchar Ao, Director, Peace NBCC, Th. Robinson Tangkhul, Senior Facilitator CTP, HMI, Hyderabad, Lemwang W. Chukwanglim Konyak, Facilitator CTP, HMI, Hyderabad, M. Tolkham Maring, general secretary Chandel Naga Public Organization (CNPO) , K. Marigold Maring, general secretary NWUM, Worthing Horam Tangkhul, Auditor General NSF, B. Chubala Yimchunger, member, Tuensang District Mother’s Association (TDMA), T. Yenhola Yimchunger, member TDMA, S. Helula Yimchunger, member TDMA, Aram Pamei , convener Peace Committee Tamenglong and Sumshol Khular, member, NPMHR/ Chandel.
Journeying for peace is a concept that Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) has some familiarity with as a result of its experiences in facilitating women’s inter-faith journeys. Since 1999 HMI has facilitated three journeys (international) and a conference based on the journeys. This innovative approach has facilitated bridge – building between different participants as well as clarity on process that help transform relations and understanding on issues.
It may be recalled that the HMI conducted advanced level workshop in conflict resolution in Kigwema, Nagaland in March this year. The subsequent meetings with church elders, student organizations and women’s organizations have resulted in envisioning a peace journey.
HMI is an organization and has been working in Manipur since 2000 and in Nagaland since 2002. It invests in developing process and models that contribute to building individual and institutional capacities in the areas of peace building and believed that peace building is complex and requires sustained efforts over several years (even decades) to produce desired outcomes and some change.
The journey model in this case is being adopted to make some contribution to strengthen the social fabric of Nagas which has become strained over the course of several years due to conflicts and perceptions of the other, across different tribes and locations,” said a concept paper of the peace journey phase I. “We hope that significant learning’s might emerge on journey as a model, which can foster better understanding between peoples and tribes living far apart. It also facilitates learning on what are the priorities of people in different locations and how to have a more inclusive strategy when working for peace,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho, NPHMR and Naga Mothers’ Association was appreciative of the peace journey. “Peace that we long for will not evade us. However difficult it may be, let us give our best and work with one spirit and one effort to bring the glory one day in our society,” said NMA president Khesheli in her message. “We NPMHR strongly support the team and encourage our people to cooperate with the team as we all are working for the welfare of the peace in our society,” said NPMHR convenor Atoho Kiho. “We are happy with the initiative taken up by the Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad for this peace journey and for the effort to bring unity and peace among our Naga brotherhood,” said Keviletuo, President Naga Hoho.
