As another new year sets in, it has not been a good beginning for the Naga people as all of us would have noticed by now that the notable newsmakers center around old problems that we as a people have been unable to overcome. The uncertainty over the peace process made more difficult by new divisions among our armed groups with the return of factional violence and bloodshed, all this has had a gloomy impact on the lives of the people, and including low business sentiment that is reinforcing the image of Nagas land as disturbed and violent prone. And as rightly mentioned by many, every time there is an outbreak of factional fighting, it is the common Naga people who suffer—fear and insecurity creeps in and more bloodshed means more distrust and misunderstanding among the Nagas. At a time when the process of Naga reconciliation under the Forum for Naga reconciliation (FNR) has made headway in the right direction, the creation of more division within the armed groups is not helping in anyway, the cause of the Nagas for peace, reconciliation and political settlement. Our leaders especially of the Naga armed groups must be consciously aware about how division and fighting among the Nagas is pushing us more and more away from our rightful place as a nation. We are unable to rise and shine as a people, society or nation because of the unresolved issue/s within ourselves and also with India. We are neither here nor there and this status-quo of uncertainty is not helping.
So isn’t it time for our national groups to rise above their differences? A day may come when people may lose faith and patience with the so called representatives of the people. Are we really working for the Naga cause or are we just looking to become rich and powerful in the name of Naga nationalism? Today the Naga people face many challenges and we should actually be embarrassed of ourselves if we look at the corrupt deeds that we are so fond of doing as compared with our noble ideals of freedom and independence. Somehow even though we seem to be trying very hard, but nothing is moving for us. There is no progress even after more than 60 years—whether political, economic or social. Even the Nagaland State has not lived upto to expectation. The arrangement of having a State for some few Nagas under the Indian Union, though necessitated by circumstances, has not been able to resolve the larger Naga political question. But then again, what are the Naga groups going to do for a permanent political settlement? Everyone has been keenly waiting for answers to the Naga question. And this is why the Naga reconciliation process is of outmost importance. The vital link between the Naga peace process and an acceptable political solution lies in building up an inclusive model of reconciliation. The FNR must work towards regrouping the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation and making the process broad-based and inclusive of all shades of opinion. The opportunity to resolve our internal affairs and to set the Naga house in order is here upon us. Time is running out.
