Not only the greatest of the news of our time but September 18 Summit 2010 will become a significant historical land-mark in the history of the Naga freedom struggle. Claiming to have the mandate of the people, our honorable patriots and leadership separated into nearly half-a-dozen groups which in turn divide people as well. For decades, there was no meeting point. Differences with conditions and pre-conditions prevailed, hardly realizing that more problems than solution were created which rendered the vexed Naga political issue taking its own flight in the air without control for landing. The last several decades saw the darkest and most chaotic situation with blood and tears. Numerous efforts of peace initiatives were made notably among other the Naga Summit 1992 in Dimapur and the Atlanta meet 1997 all of which defied desired result without collective leadership of all groups and oneness in peoples power at home.
With God nothing is impossible. Years of acrimony and dissension at last melted into a two-point commitment of reconciliation. What seems impossible became Possible. The unwavering efforts of the past are rewarded and a new light has come. It is what was talked about and longed for, prayed for and worked for. Perhaps a Jordan River is crossed over with the Naga covenant box and it is the Lord’s doing. Victory and honor and praise be to Him. We are set to go forward together once again.
We heartily congratulate and express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the leadership the political groups and to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for relentlessly working together on this very difficult and yet all-time important issue and brought about the concrete result for all Naga people everywhere. Many more challenges and thornier issues may still be ahead requiring increased measure of intelligence and higher levels of common thought in the interest of our historic homeland and its people. We there urge the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation and the September Summit to remain faithfully committed to the historic Covenant of Reconciliation, COR.
The Bible tells us that the people of God, the Israelites, passed through the wilderness with many unsurmountable physical and spiritual problems, and sharp differences amongst them, and yet they continually adopted new strategy and methods to meet anticipated and unanticipated challenges together and finally reached the promised land. So must be the case for Naga also be.
Nagas are one and our commonalities are far greater than our differences. There are differences that will hinder our halt our going forward together. There are differences that will facilitate and strengthen our oneness and marching forward in the journey of common hope it understood and reconciled. All differences must be addressed and reconciled in the light of the said COR supported by the September Summit. Someone may sow the seed, another may water, but it is God who makes the plant to grow and bear fruits (I Cor. 3:6). We all are co-worker with God. In Christ, we are reconciled. In reconciliation, we are set free to go forward in God’s will for His purposes. Everyone should be willing to be a part of the solution rather than of the problem. The early comers and the late comers shall receive the same amount of wages in God’s purpose (Matt. 20:12).
We have a vision. We have a dream: that one day all Naga people will live together in one territory, one country as a unique nation on this planet earth. In that historic United Naga Homeland, Nagas and non-Nagas will live together as brothers and sisters. There may be different ethnic groups and communities, different languages and dialects, different religious and cultures, but only one God, the creator of heavens and earth, who is above all and in all.
The Naga leadership shall be considered not on the basics of the past nor of the tribe and community does one belong to, but on the basis of character, integrity and quality of the head and the heart as a man of God. We need to give pragmatic perception to our history and situation. We need to strive for stronger cooperation, stronger voluntary discipline and an active engagement in an effective dialogue to resolves issues ahead. The unique realities and distinct differences await the removal of discordant keys in asperity of patience and understanding that the beauty of harmonious music of unity in diversity may come in. reconciliation and unity is the key to bring about our common hopes and dreams, our common visions and aspirations into reality. The Negro Spirituals tells us, “Keep the heavenly land in sight and walk in the narrow way”. That is God’s way, the right way to the right goal and destination.
Rev. L Bizo,
President, Council of Naga Baptist Churches
Rev. VK Nuh
General Secretary
