Aimed at fostering unity and progress, the apex Naga civil society organizations, alongside the Church and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), convened on Saturday, 27 April 2024.
The FNR said, in a press release, that they met to express appreciation to the Naga political groups (NPGs) for their commitment to cooperate on the essentials of the Naga political and historical rights and call upon all Naga citizens and people of Naga-Land, to offer critical solidarity during this period of renewed “co-operation” among the NPGs.
Consequently, in the meeting of the Church and the apex Naga civil society organizations, we have agreed to support the Naga Plebiscite Day, May 16, 2024, program to be held in Dimapur and call upon all to render their full support to the Naga historical mark having an abiding significance.
Further, FNR said that the meeting agreed that, regardless of internal differences within the Naga family, “ we state in the strongest terms that, violence of words, statements, and bloodshed will not be accepted by the Naga people.”
Reaffirming the commitment made in the “September Joint Accordant” of 14 September 2022, the participants emphasized the imperative of transcending group differences through cooperation.
The meeting also discussed the “rampant unabated multiple taxation” with deep concern highlighting that it is the common man and woman who suffers.
The FNR at the meeting called all the NPGs to do a serious socio-political analysis without delay.
“The present “here and now” (existential) quest for economic survival is a dangerous sign of political bankruptcy. FNR hopes that the NPGs will have the courage to address this matter without further delay,” FNR stated in the release.
The meeting also acknowledged the significance of the Naga National Anthem, officially resolved during the 56th Tatar Hoho Session of the Naga National Council in 2006. The song was composed by late R Kevichusa. Though FNR is not an official body to resolve any Naga political agenda, the FNR endorsed all NPGs and the Naga citizens to support what has been approved.
FNR said that the NPGs accepted the approved Naga National Anthem enthusiastically on Saturday, 13 April, 2024, and by the same token, the Church and the apex Naga civil society organizations, on 27 April, 2024, welcomed the decisions and added that all Nagas must learn the anthem.
The gathering concluded with a resounding call for realism and renewed spirit of active hope recovered from the past despite the many fault lines.
“Realism in our context is envisaging that the Naga world is possible, and this has become the rallying point with a renewed spirit of active hope recovered from the past despite the many fault lines,” FNR said in the press release. “This hope is indeed from an honest critique of the past to a new imagination of change that will pave the future,” FNR added.
The meeting was attended by the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), Global Naga Forum (GNF), Naga Hoho (NH), Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Naga Students Federation (NSF), Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF), Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), and the United Naga Council (UNC).