“Mr Isak Swu called me at 10:05 AM saying he has signed the CoR. As if it was staged, Khaplang called at 10:20 AM to inform me that he has signed the CoR” – Rev Dr Wati Aier takes down the memory lane
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), which was formed against a backdrop of violence between the Naga political groups in 2008, commemorated its 15th anniversary of reconciliation and peace work on 13 July at Oriental Theological Seminary, Bade, Chumoukedima. The commemoration saw an eventful gathering with 19 leaders from the NSCN-IM and the NNPGs attending the event showing strength of unity amidst their differences.
Rev Dr Wati Aier, the convener of FNR, delivered a speech on ‘Journey of Common Hope,’ reminiscing about the challenges encountered by FNR since its inception in March 2008. He recounted how FNR took the message of reconciliation to different Naga political groups, facing resistance to change at every step, from Neheku and Hebron to Kohima, Mon, Noklak, and the Sagaiang region of Burma.
After 31 days of perseverance, the FNR’s continuous efforts led to a breakthrough. The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), NSCN (IM), and NSCN (K) agreed to meet, although there was initially disagreement on the location of the meeting.
“More than one group strongly expressed that the meeting should not be held in Nagaland for security reasons. This was understandable given the context then,” he said. Eventually, the first meeting took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 9 to 16 May 2008, with subsequent meetings occurring until 11 December 2015.
“The Journey of common hope, on many occasions, was not predictable,” he said, recalling how in the second flight to Chiang Mai, one group did not want to fly in the same flight with the others, nor did they want to room on the same floor in the YMCA Hotel.
“On receiving news of ‘factional’ violence and killings, one group wanted to leave Chiang Mai in the middle of the night. Some of us had to explain to our friends that one just couldn’t go to the airport with an intention to take an international flight home,” he narrated.
Therefore, to bridge the differences, FNR organized a football game between the “Naga national team” and the “FNR-Quaker team,” which fostered unity and brought smiles and laughter.
Throughout the process, the Naga political groups and FNR held a total of 267 meetings within Nagaland and 21 meetings abroad. Following the fifth meeting in Chiang Mai from 27 May to 2 June 2009, the Naga political groups drafted and signed the ‘Covenant of Reconciliation’ (CoR), aimed at ending all forms of violence among the Nagas.
He recalled his diary record of Saturday, June 13, 2009: “What a historic day! Today, both Isak Chishi Swu and SS Khaplang signed the Covenant of Reconciliation. Mr Isak Swu called me at 10:05 AM saying he has signed the CoR. As if it was staged, Khaplang called at 10:20 AM to inform me that he has signed the CoR. Brig S Singnya had already signed on June 2, 2009, and the document was handed over to me by Mr Zhopra, Vice President.”
The CoR emerged at a time when violence and bloodshed were rampant, leaving many with deep psychological scars of fear, hatred, and anger. Dr Aier emphasized that the CoR came as a gift to the Nagas, with hopes that it would be the Magna Carta of the Naga people, bringing about healing and reconciliation.
After the signing of the CoR, Dr Aier recalled how soldiers from different Naga armies united to paint the Dimapur over-bridge and City Tower. Additionally, a combined choir from NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), and FGN sang in churches across Dimapur during the Christmas season in 2009.
Notably, on 25 August 2009, representatives from 46 Naga organizations gathered and called for the “highest-level meeting” of Naga political leaders. This call set the stage for subsequent meetings and discussions among the Naga political leaders, which commenced on 18 June 2010 in Dimapur.
“In a subtle manner, the Naga political movement is moving ahead,” Dr Aier remarked, “But it must grow far more and progress towards achieving long-term purpose, wisdom, and imagination.”
Dr Aier acknowledged the challenges posed by the polarized global world and major fault lines, such as the 642 KM Patkai range between Myanmar and India. He lamented that despite this geopolitical environment, the Nagas remain structurally rigid, rationalistic, argumentative, arrogant, and boxed in with their own preferred plans of action. He stressed the urgency for qualities like mutual forbearance, cooperation, love, and a willingness to listen, characterized by prudence.
Dr Aier called upon the Nagaland state legislature, Naga political groups, civil organizations, and the church to imagine alternative workable models. He emphasized that being “stateless” does not mean being “rootless” and urged them to transcend territories and create a stateless yet deeply rooted nation.