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03/03/2009: "Naga groups willing to talk to each other morungexpress"

Naga groups willing to talk to each other morungexpress

Join Hand in Hand for Solidarity: Diana Francis, a member of the Quakers team join in dancing with Naga women at Noklak village. A four-member Quakers team during their ninth visit to Nagaland has indicated that there is greater openness and trust among the Naga “political” groups (factions) to meeting one another and talking to each other and have expressed cautious optimism over proposed meeting/s “at the highest level.” The Quakers have been assisting the ongoing Naga reconciliation efforts undertaken by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur | March 2 : The visiting team of London based Quakers assisting the reconciliation efforts undertaken by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has perhaps for the first time indicated that there is greater openness and trust among the Naga groups to meeting and talking to each other. Expressing cautious optimism over the proposed meeting/s “at the highest level”, the Quakers in an exclusive interview with the Chief of Bureau, The Morung Express, pointed out that this “willingness” to meet at the highest level by “almost all the groups” was a “big step forward”. When queried, the Quakers disclosed that no group has put any pre-condition for such a meeting and termed this as positive and encouraging for the reconciliation process currently underway ever since the series of Naga peace summits at Chiangmai, Thailand.
Quakers sense greater openness, improved level of trust While not willing to give away much on the ongoing efforts, the visiting delegation nevertheless “suggested” on the “probability” of a “first meeting” between top leaders of the political groups. It was pointed out that the meeting at the highest level will require a “step by step” approach and that it will require “sincere efforts” from all the groups. “We are convinced that cessation of military hostilities would be a helpful background to a high-level meeting”, the Quakers suggested while adding that all support needs to be given to the forum for the proposed high level meeting/s. It was also requested to the groups that the “low level of violence be maintained or reduced” for the “agreed next step” of meeting at the highest level. The Quakers encouraged the need for the groups to make “unconditional peace offers” as confidence building measures.
The Quakers, who have been working closely with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation through several confidential meetings both in Nagaland and abroad, disclosed that they were in the process of “listening” to the different groups and looking at possible outcomes, which best serves the common interest of the people i.e. to reconcile on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas towards a peaceful political solution. “The Naga groups are much more willing to consider talking to each other”. The Quakers who have been involved in mediation efforts in some form or the other for several years now have reasons to be happy. “One can sense a much more conducive atmosphere. Trust levels have gone up”, the Quakers point out while explaining that the “outcomes” have been positive —the level of violence and killings coming down, less acrimony in public statements and more self restraint shown by the groups.
In their effort to reconcile the different groups, the Quakers have reportedly visited the different headquarters or camps—Hebron, Khehoi, Noklak, Kohima—and have met with all the Naga “political groups” with the common question i.e. what each one can offer to the reconciliation process. “We want to send out the message that you are the stakeholders”. Admitting that more needs to be done to build trust, the Quakers are aware about the “fragility” of the process itself. “There can be no complacency”, they added while at the same time remaining optimistic about the goal of sustainable peace. The Quakers in particular lauded the role played by the forum describing the efforts put in by them as both ground breaking and a “large step” taken. “The FNR has been instrumental in giving momentum to the reconciliation process”, the Quakers acknowledged.
This was the ninth visit of a Quakers team to Nagaland. The four-member Quakers team that visited Nagaland on this occasion comprised of Stuart Morton, Jan Arriens, Diana Francis and Martin Williams.
The Quakers are known across the world for their commitment to peacemaking and their quiet approach and non-formal diplomacy has been well appreciated in conflict areas. The Quaker belief that each human being is endowed with something precious, an “inner light” or “that of God” within has been the guiding value in their peace work.
The Quakers were awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 in recognition of their contribution to peace efforts around the world.
Cong pulls out of Naga peace meet OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, March 2: The Congress today pulled out of a “consultative meeting” organised by the government to push forward the ongoing Naga peace process after blaming a ruling constituent, the Nagaland People’s Front, of causing a defection in the party.
Four Congress MLAs — Kejong Chang, Azheto Sumi, Aloh Konyak and Deo Nukhu — quit the Assembly recently to join the NPF.
The Congress cited the defection, allegedly engineered by the NPF, the main constituent of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, as the primary reason to stay away from the meeting, slated for March 5-7.
The meeting, convened by the state government’s “peace affairs committee”, will be attended by Nagas living abroad, Naga support groups, Naga representatives from Myanmar, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, various tribal hohos, civil societies, church organisations, political parties and representatives from Naga rebel factions.
PCC president K.V. Pusa said the party had received an invitation to attend the meeting but the recent resignation of four of its legislators from the Assembly to join the NPF, has forced the party to rethink its participation.
The party directly blamed the NPF for the defection of four of its members.
Pusa said the Congress would continue to work for an amicable solution to the Naga issue and thanked the various Naga organisations for their concern over the issue.
Former chief minister K.L. Chishi also warned the government that weaning away Congress policymakers would jeopardise the Naga peace process.
Though the Opposition Congress was of the view that the long-drawn Naga political problem has to be resolved through peaceful and democratic means, party insiders said the state government had also failed to take them into confidence before conceptualising the proposed meeting.
The Opposition said a major political party like the Congress has been kept in the dark, which amounts to ignoring it as a whole. It further said the working and concept papers and the agenda of the meeting were not circulated along with the invitation cards.
Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), which is active in brokering peace in the state, also said that trying to pull down each other would create more divisions in the Naga society.
Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, the outgoing general secretary of the powerful Nagaland Baptist Church Council, appealed to the Naga policymakers against indulging in such activities.
The peace affairs committee chairman, T.M. Lotha, urged the Congress to participate in the meeting. He said the proposal was the outcome of the meeting with various Naga organisations. Lotha said the meeting was called for a common cause and to discuss and evolve a consensus on the Naga political issue.
NSCN (IM) official passes away morungexpress
Dimapur : The NSCN (IM) has informed of the passing away of Kakhandai Kamei, alias Kamson, who served as Deputy Secretary in the ministry of forest environment and mineral (FEM, GPRN). Kamson, who hails from Charungkhou (Chaiba) village in Churachandpur district, Manipur, died on February 27, 2009, after a prolonged illness. In a press release issued by the MIP, it was informed that Kamson was an active youth leader before he joined the “national service” in April 18, 1994, and had served the NSCN (IM) in various capacities in different departments.
The MIP informed that a funeral service for Kamson was held on February 28 at Bade village, which was attended by members of the GPRN and the National Socialist Women Organization of Nagalim (NSWON) along with relatives and friends. While expressing condolence to the bereaved family members, the MIP stated: “the Naga nation is grateful to late Kamson for having given his best to Nagalim and history will honor him.”
North-East festival in Kolkata TNN
KOLKATA: Over the current week and the next, the city will witness a cultural and sports extravaganza from the north-eastern states. First, there
is Sanskritikee, an ethnic folk festival of Assam spread over Friday and Saturday. Next week, the North-East Sports and Cultural Meet will follow.

Tribes from Assam like Bodos, Misings, Ravas, Tiwas, Plains Karbis, Deuris and the Tea community took part in Sanskritikee at Sisir Mancha. There were colourful dances special to these tribes, screening of films in their languages and dialects as well as an exhibition displaying handicrafts in which the tribal communities excelled.

The sports and cultural meet, spread over six days, will kick off at the Sports Authority of India complex on Tuesday. Teams from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim would take part in it where football, cricket, volleyball, basketball, Dutch ball and tug of war will be played.