The Working Committee (WC), Non-Naga Political Groups (NNPGs) has issued an appeal to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the Sumi Hoho to ensure an inclusive, decisive, and historic discourse on Naga political issues.
In a statement released by its media cell, the Working Committee recalled the journey of reconciliation, noting that “from the Signing of the Covenant of Reconciliation (CoR), 18th March 2009 to the signing of Lenten Agreement, 28th March 2014, Naga history will bestow great honor to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) led by its Convener Rev. Dr. Wati Aier and colleagues for igniting genuine hope of Naga unity and reconciliation in the hearts and minds of the Naga people.”
However, the Working Committee criticized the NSCN (IM) leaders for turning FNR’s reconciliatory documents into political propaganda, saying that on “03rd August 2015, a live TV broadcast betrayed CoR signatory partners and the Naga people in general… The Apex Tribal Hohos, village chiefs/headmen, custodians of Naga customary laws, FNR and other prominent civil societies were all taken for a ride.”
The Working Committee said that for the next seven years, FNR “fell eerily silent, remained dormant and incognito… Perhaps due to insincerity and betrayal to our common journey by a major stakeholder.”
The statement highlighted that other civil societies, including the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Nagaland GB Federation, CNTC, Mother’s organizations, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, Senior Citizens Forum, CNCCI, Ex-Parliamentarians Forum and intellectual groups, stepped in from 2016 to analyze and differentiate “illusion and practical reality on the Naga issue.” The Working Committee noted that delegations from NTC and NGBF met the Prime Minister in early 2017, marking significant progress.
The Working Committee welcomed FNR’s return, saying, “WC is grateful that FNR has returned after a long hiatus, continuing the journey of common hope with renewed vigor and this is duly appreciated.”
It recalled the September Joint Accordant of 14th September 2022, in which parties agreed “to form the Council of Naga Relationships and Cooperation and to explore, at the earliest, realistic ways for Nagas to move forward on the basis of Naga historical and political rights.”
The statement also referenced the January 14, 2023 declaration, “Nagas are moving ahead,” in which leaders committed to “unconditional collaboration… for the resolution of the Naga historical and political rights with the Government of India.” The Working Committee noted that this statement was later disowned by MIP of NSCN (IM) four days after the signing, and that on “3rd August 2025, an NSCN (IM) statement issued by Chairman Q Tuccu said, ‘…for the NSCN to work with NNPGs is a dangerous proposition’ and went on to say, ‘Framework Agreement and Agreed Position are poles apart and we see no meeting point whatsoever.’” The Working Committee pointed out that FNR “did not applaud nor rebuke” these developments.
Describing the current political scenario, the Working Committee stated that “Nagaland is heavily burdened by more than twenty Naga political organizations. Reality is, there are only two Naga Political Groups: those who want honorable and acceptable Indo-Naga political solution… and those who wish to prolong the conflict for their own interest and benefit.”
The Working Committee appealed to FNR and Sumi Hoho to defer their upcoming Zunheboto meet by a week or two, urging that “every Naga civil society… be invited for a fruitful discourse in the spirit of acceptance and oneness… Entrusting a single individual or few members risks stagnation and indecisiveness at this crucial hour.”
Concluding the statement, the Working Committee emphasized that the principles of the Covenant of Reconciliation and Journey of Common Hope “can be applied to and extended to all the apex civil societies as well. It is not designed and structured exclusively for Naga political groups.”
