Council to explore realistic ways for Nagas to move forward on the basis of historical and political rights
Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kolkata | October 20
In another big step towards the reconciliation process, the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) have agreed to form the Council of Naga Relationships and Cooperation (CNRC) at the earliest.
The Council, to be led by Convenor of NNPGs and Chairman of NSCN (IM), was formed to explore “realistic ways for Nagas to move forward on the basis of Naga historical and political rights” at the earliest.
The agreement was arrived at the meeting of the NNPGs and NSCN (IM) representatives under the initiative of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in Kolkata from October 17-18. It was held in “response to the Naga people’s yearning for reconciliation and unity in purpose.”
It was also a follow-up of the September Joint Accordant signed by the two Naga Political Groups (NPGs) on September 14, which among others, pledged to honour the “Covenant Of Reconciliation” (CoR) of June 13, 2009—signed by the late Isak Chishi Swu, late SS Khaplang and Brig (Retired) S Singnya in “letter and in spirit.”
“Taking forward the September Joint Accordant’s resolve ‘to chart a path forward,’ we have agreed to form the Council of Naga Relationships and Cooperation led by the Convenor of NNPGs and Chairman of NSCN to explore, at the earliest, realistic ways for Nagas to move forward on the basis of Naga historical and political rights,” read a statement issued after the Kolkata meeting.
“Understanding the urgency to rise above our present condition, the NNPGs and the NSCN are committing ourselves to the values of Truth, Forgiveness, Justice, and Peace as the discerning power to help us choose a shared future over the divisions of the past,” declared the statement appended by N Kitovi Zhimomi, Convenor, NNPGs and Tongmeth Wangnao, Vice President, NSCN (IM).
“We urge the Naga public to jointly participate and support this process of shaping and building this future together,” it added.
It is to be noted here that the ‘September Joint Accordant,’ among others, pledged to honour the CoR and the two NPGs resolved to work together in the spirit of love and desist from all forms of armed violence and also refrain from indulging in violence of words through print and social media.
The NNPGs and NSCN (IM) further declared to guard against rifts that further divide them and find ways to “transcend our differences through cooperation, to be worked out in future meetings, on the basis of the CoR.”
Along with this, they further urged all individuals and organisations “to refrain from all forms of rhetoric, assumptions and agendas that are divisive.”
Likewise, on October 8, the Naga apex organisations as well as the Church came together and extended support to the ‘September Joint Accordant’ and pledged to render ‘whole hearted assistance to reconciliation process.’
Both the NPGs were further urged to find “common ground and mutually agree on a relationship of cooperation based on the Naga historical and political rights in order to move forward.”
The meeting, also held under FNR’s initiative, further noted that the public in sincere trust, await the fulfillment of the ‘September Joint Accordant’ by the signatories in ‘letter and in spirit’.
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