Present deadlock in Naga political process requires reconciliation: FNR

January 14, 2019 360 Views No Comment

Naga Republic News

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has advocated that reconciliation ‘enables historical and political transformation’ and called for a ‘re-imagined peace process’ pointing out that the present deadlock in the Naga political process requires reconciliation.

Given the current state of what it termed as ‘one-dimensional politics’, the FNR in a statement called for re-imagining the peace process anchored on multi-dimensional politics which includes the people’s active participation in the political process.

“The people and their aspirations must be at the heart of the process. This will strengthen the process and open up possibilities for transparency, accountability, credibility and integrity making it viable and responsive”, the FNR statement affirmed.

According to the FNR, a ‘re-imagined peace process has Reconciliation as the pivotal point that will determine whether an outcome can be implemented in a manner which is respectful, dignified, durable, sustainable and just, and therefore workable’.

“Reconciliation is part of the forward movement embedded in the vocabulary of the political process that enables historical and political transformation. This is precisely why the present deadlock in the Naga political process requires reconciliation”, it stated.

The FNR in its statement called on the need “to re-imagine the Indo-Naga Peace Process with one that encompasses and compliments the political exchanges in Delhi between the Government of India and the Naga political groups by raising Naga peoples’ voices through inclusive participation and transparency”.

“Based on the current political narrative being articulated”, the FNR states that “people at home – in Naga-Land are not optimistic about a breakthrough in the peace process and pointing out that “the omission of the people at this crucial stage is short-sighted”.

“It has contributed to this distrustful narrative. The need for immediate connection with the people is imperative”, the FNR stated.

The FNR has also responded to a recent Indian Express news report ‘Clock ticking, Naga talks stuck for long over issue of symbols’ where the newspaper had quoted sources saying that “the current logjam is largely due to the Church, which has taken a lead role in articulating the Naga political position in the past year”.

In this regard, the Indian Express report had highlighted about the September 8, 2018 meeting organized by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and where Naga civil society groups and political groups had issued a statement called the ‘Declaration of the Naga Collective Spirit’.

“The Forum for Naga Reconciliation is not a Church organization, although its members comprise of Christian crossing institutionalized Church bodies”, the statement from the FNR stated and also pointing out that the FNR has never been part of the Naga political process with the Government of India.

“FNR’s primary mandate from the Naga people has been to work for Naga Reconciliation on the basis of Naga historical and political rights. Consequently, any agreed upon issues of the Nagas between the entities cannot be credited to the FNR”, it stated.

On the recent media report pointing to the ‘institutional influence’ of the Church as ‘coming in the way of a realistic settlement’ to the Indo-Naga peace dialogue, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has pointed out that the “presumptions seem to be an attempt to pass the buck to FNR in an effort to avoid jumping the hurdle of sustainable peace”.

“In all fairness, while the people are still waiting to officially hear in detail what is being worked out, these presumptions cannot be permitted to impede the possible transformation which is in the making. Furthermore, neither should it erroneously deconstruct what is being worked out between the stakeholders of both India and the Nagas!”

According to the FNR, the current “presumptions being made in the public forum by second string actors (whether they are known or unknown to the Government) is akin to employing unhealthy Cold War approaches”.

“The present presumptions emanating from an interpretation of the September 8, 2018, Declaration of the Naga Collective Spirit made by Naga political parties, tribe hohos, religious organizations, and civil society groups in a meeting facilitated by FNR reflect an ideological screen of One-Dimensional Politics”, the FNR stated.

The FNR has thus questioned: “Is the intention of the ideological screen to abandon forward looking steps and possibilities? Are the present presumptions tactical exercises to scrutinize the current thoughts and stance of the people of Naga-Land?”

Click for full text of FNR statement