Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 6
The Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC), Kohima today organized a thanksgiving service here in remembrance of 1964 ceasefire day. Speaking on the occasion at the function held here at the NPC office, NPC chairman N. Theyo said that peace which "were are celebrating today once in every year on 6th September 1964 was chosen for the inauguration of the ceasefire." Terming it as a red letter day in the history of Nagaland, he said it marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. He said the public meeting and special services in the church were held to welcome and to support the peace move throughout
Nagaland.
He stated that Baptist Convention at Wokha was held from January 31 to February 2, 1964. The Nagaland Baptist Convention which was attended by more than 5000 representatives from all the tribes of Nagaland, unanimously resolved to request the Government of India through the state government of Nagaland to open further avenues for making available the services of Late Jay Prakash Narayan, Sankardev, Bimla Prasad Chaliha and Rev. Michel Scott with the sole object of exploring ways and means for speedy restoration of peace and normalcy in Nagaland.
The NPC chairman added that the church leaders of Nagaland was requested to give every possible cooperation for the success of the peace mission, adding the Wokha Convention appointed a special committee consisting of Rev. Longri Ao, Rev. Shihoto, Kenneth Kerhwo and Toniho Chishi. On February 2, 1965, the ruling NNO party had a two days’ long session and resolved to welcome and support the peace move. The opposition Democratic Party of Nagaland also welcomed the peace proposal and requested both over-ground and underground to give serious thoughts to the proposal and to refrain from the act of violence in the way of peace talk. The Nagaland Legislative Assembly also resolved to support the peace mission and constituted a nine members committee to assist the church leaders. The committee was headed by then Chief Minister of Nagaland Late Shilu Ao and included the opposition leaders.
Theyo stated that the peace achieved on September 6, 1964 “is real peace which is also a legacy of late Jay Prakash Narayan who had established the peace centre of Nagaland, Kohima.” The NPC chairman also said the idea of peace proposal was initiated by the Nagaland Baptist Church leaders who were men of peace and men of God. “So the Naga people are the roots of every organization without which it is liable to be weak and unable to sustain the difficulty and adversity. Nagas are always in the history from time immemorial who fight against injustice and tyranny.”
“Nagas who give serious thoughts to the national workers and who were fractured into factions are now brought together by the FNR,” Theyo said adding “the Naga Reconciliation Meet was held in Chiangmai, Thailand from June 1 to 8, 2009, which resulted in signing a document ‘Covenant of Reconciliation’ by the NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), GPRN/NSCN, FGN&NNC and the latest by Unification Group.”
“This is the opportunity for Nagas including national workers for political survival and we should not miss this opportunity,” Theyo added. Lhusi Haralu and several other members also spoke on the occasion and expressed their views on the Naga political issue. Earlier, responsive reading was led by Lhusi Haralu while C. Puro, associate pastor CBC Kitsubozou said thanksgiving prayer. The function concluded with a mass prayer.
