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Naga women on peace mission
By Oken Jeet Sandham
Unlike any other women's organization in the region, the Naga Mothers Association, as apex body of the Naga women took the courage to always meet Naga underground leaders, be it in Bangkok or what it called Eastern Nagaland (Northern Myanmar) in order to convey their profound yearning for a durable peace in their land. They braved days on foot crossing over inhospitable rugged mountains to reach the Headquarters of NSCN (K) to Eastern Nagaland (Northern Myanmar) to meet the outfit's supremo, SS Khaplang.
Recently, as a result of the of the Naga Reconciliation Movement launched on December 20 last year by mass-based Naga organizations under the aegis of the Naga Hoho at Kohima local ground, the Naga Mothers Association (NMA), the apex body of Naga Women started meeting various top leaders of both factions of the NSCN in Bangkok and Eastern Nagaland (Myanmar). The outcomes of their meetings with these top leaders of Naga underground organizations are quite encouraging as they all stressed the importance of creating a peaceful environment and the need for unity among them at this hour for a lasting and permanent solution to the decades old Nagaland political problem, said president of the NMA, Mrs. Neidonuo Angami.
Angami said they had attended the Naga Consultation Meet from January 7 to 11 of this year in Bangkok hosted by NSCN (IM). The meet was more to do with the Naga peace process that is underway with the Government of India and the collective leadership of the outfit, Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. The two NSCN (IM) leadership has explained how the peace talks are going on with the Government of India. "Although I cannot say whether the leaders of the Government of India is sincere in respect of the peace process, I am now happy at the moment that they are at least trying to understand the cause of the Naga political movement", the NMA chief told The Week. "Therefore we are also encouraged to work for reconciliation although we may have our own ideas by circumstances".
"The NSCN (K) Chairman, SS Khaplang also is matured and understandable on the current situation and he gave a positive response to the call of the Naga people for peace, prosperity and unity among the various sections of Naga society", she stated. Khaplang has wisdom and a very wide knowledge as a Naga national movement leader. "We are really impressed on this".
After the Bangkok declaration on June 14, that is extension of the ongoing Center-NSCN (IM) ceasefire pact without territorial limit which sparked wide-spread and unprecedented violent agitation in the North-East particularly in Manipur, people in the region as well as mainland India came to realize about the Naga political movement. Before that nobody realized the import and gravity of the issue. "We also came to know that different communities living in this region need to talk and share their varying views and opinions", she added.
When asked whether their current initiatives included bringing all Naga contiguous areas to come under one roof while meeting with various Naga underground leaders, the NMA leader said all these were secondary. "Here we are not talking geographical point of view, she pointed out. "We are talking in terms of human relationship in the North Eastern region and beyond its horizon". She however supported the stands taken
by the United Naga Council, Manipur in summoning all the Naga candidates on the eve of the 8th Manipur Assembly election to sign an open declaration that they should support the cause of the Naga issue if elected in the election. Unless UNC did take such drastic steps, Nagas will take long to come as Naga brothers, though it is there in their hearts. It is just the manifestation of reaffirming brotherhood whether one likes it or not, the NMA leader explained. "And I think, the UNC, Manipur need to make some reconciliation among themselves (Nagas in Manipur) and also with Meiteis".
She said as a leader of the NMA, they were happy for the new development. "We are encouraged that neighboring states woke up to know that Naga people had a political problem that nobody denies. That change is also good for us", she pointed out. "We also realize up to a great extent that we need to have good relationship with our neighbors. We said it was political and should be dealt with politically".
On whether she had any confidence on the newly elected Naga MLAs in Manipur that they would carry the message as per the directives given by UNC, she said, "If they think it should be, they should do it". "At the same time, we should also know that there were Naga leaders in Manipur who are also going against the Naga interests".
"However leaving aside all the political issues, people to people dialogue is needed and therefore we are willing to meet and talk to our counterpart in the valley", she expressed. "This is the only way where we can settle all the problems". |
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