The Naga Reconciliation process under the aegis of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) began in 2008. That was the year when gunfights between NSCN (IM) and GPRN/NSCN were at its heights. That was also the year when the Vihokhu camp of GPRN/NSCN was overrun by NSCN (IM) in June 26. Almost every day there was news about factional killings mostly in Dimapur. One of the reasons which could be attributed to the heightened factional clash in 2008 was the Naga Unification declared at Hovishe under Niuland on November 23, 2007. Likeminded people from NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) had merged with the objective of unifying the Nagas. With the merger, the nomenclature NSCK (K) was replaced with GPRN/NSCN. However, this development did not go down well with the NSCN (IM) which termed the move of its members who merged with NSCN (K) as “defectors.” After few months of Naga Unification declaration, gunfights between the two sides almost became a daily affair claiming scores of lives. Neither side backed off but continued in retaliatory mode. It was during such times of bloodshed that the FNR took on the onerous task of reconciling the Naga political groups. In its initial stage, the existence of FNR was almost invisible but steadily with tactful handling of the situations and communication skills, people began to notice the initiatives of the Forum. The FNR was gradually recognized as an umbrella where all the Naga groups came together to discuss the possibilities of Reconciliation. People’s hope rose higher in 2010 when the Reconciliation process reached a point where frequent meetings among the once stubborn leaders began to slowly relax their rigidities. The meetings became friendlier. Factional killings stopped almost completely and the state government also recognized the efforts of the FNR and other Naga NGOs towards the peaceful situation. However, due to reasons known only to the FNR and the participating Naga groups, the reconciliation atmosphere steadily became colder. The Naga political groups blamed each other for making it difficult for the FNR to carry on the reconciliation process. The FNR was made more or less helpless when the Naga political leaders began to shy away from meetings. Whenever the highest level leadership was supposed to attend the meeting, only the Joint Working Group members drawn for the three groups were present. In the absence of highest level leaders, the FNR also could not do much to make any considerable progress. FNR appeared annoyed and frustrated. Reconciliatory meetings began to further wither when the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN unconditionally reconciled and unified on July 15, 2010 at Monyakhsu village which later came to be known as the Monyakshu Conclave. But it has to be understood that the two groups unified only in principle and modalities of that merger were yet to be worked out. There was supposed to be another merger of GPRN/NSCN and NNC headed by Dr. Senka and V. Nagi but it was never heard of again. Before this, reconciliation meetings were taking place among three groups; NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN. People had thought that the merger between GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN would make the reconciliation process easier as the FNR would then be theoretically dealing with only two groups – NSCN (IM) and GPRN/NSCN-NNC/FGN. However, the NSCN (IM) described this Conclave as ‘sabotaging’ the Naga reconciliation and unity process. Thus, the reconciliation process gradually came to a lull. Since then, FNR has been trying to revive the reconciliation process. Recent engagement scheduled for the collective leaderships of three participating Naga groups did not materialize as some failed to turn up. With further division among the Naga political groups during the lull period, this time around the FNR would be dealing with GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (K), NNC/FGN and NSCN (IM), if they all agree to sit across the table. If FNR has previously put its sincere efforts for Naga reconciliation, this time it calls for renewed efforts and better adept handling of the reconciliation process. Reviving the reconciliation process comes with public pressure and demand. Senior functionaries from different Naga groups opine that reconciliation should work if none of the groups try to dictate the terms of reconciliation. The progress of reconciliation also demands and depends on FNR remaining neutral. People still have hopes and looks up to FNR to fruitfully facilitate the reconciliation process which is warming up again. Naga national leaders should also once again come out of their cocoons and meet each other with an open mind as desired by the people. If the Naga groups say they are all working for the desire of the Naga people, then the same people’s desire is for them to come together as one.
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