Zone of Peace & Tranquility
In the year 2008, we were witness to increasing factional killings between the (then) two NSCN groups. Fortunately good sense prevailed and with the positive role played by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), the situation was not only brought under control but a Covenant of Reconciliation (CoR) was signed and bitter rivals were able to meet face to face and dialogue on the future of the Naga people. This process continues. However a split in one of the NSCN group into two has further increased the number of factions. Just when it would seem that the NSCN groups were beginning to reason together and reconcile and forgive the past wrongs, a new set of misunderstanding has cropped up leading to fresh killings among former comrades. So just when a new hope was emerging that the Naga political groups would finally reconcile and move forward, the killings between the NSCN Khaplang and the GPRN/NSCN has disturbed the progress made so far in the Naga reconciliation process. Bloodshed should stop and better sense prevail so that the Journey of Common Hope can continue towards its goal. And perhaps as a first step, the two groups can revisit the 10-Point “A Covenant of Common Hope” adopted during the Naga Peace Summit III at Chiang Mai, Thailand a few years ago. Noteworthy among them include the need to “exercise utmost restraint and shun all forms of confrontation and violence that may result in further divisions among the Nagas” and instead—as rightly mentioned—to “constructively work together in addressing differences and difficulties of the ground realities that stand in the way of Naga reconciliation”.
It is becoming quite obvious that some form of mediation effort will be required to stop this recent spate of killings taking place mostly in Zunheboto region. In this regard one is reminded of a similar situation in the year 2008 when factional killing was at its height. A ceasefire agreement was signed between the erstwhile two NSCN groups, which was made operative in Sumi inhabited areas as it was the desire of the overwhelming majority of people that peace be maintained among the Naga national groups. The bold initiative of people in Zunheboto district under the aegis of the Sumi Hoho was commended in one of this column. At a time when there is increasing evidence of factional clashes and an overt turf war spreading, perhaps a similar type of peace initiative should be forthcoming from the Sumi public. Merely to rely on the ceasefire ground rules with the Government of India is insufficient. It is therefore advisable for people themselves to have ownership over the fragile situation. Perhaps people in Zunheboto or the Sumi Hoho will be aware of how the public in Zunheboto were able to mobilize under the platform of the Peace Monitoring Cell Zunheboto (PMCZ) and persuade both NSCN factions to agree to cessation of hostilities. This was a few years back when the situation in Sumi region was similar to what we are witnessing. We need a similar kind of intervention by the Sumi public where local people’s resources, knowledge and traditional peacemaking skills can be explored to address the conflict taking place and transform it into a zone of peace and tranquility. As for the armed groups on both sides, as Christians it is required that the highest respect for all life and demonstrating this, in protecting life itself, is the need of the hour.
