Reconciliation back on track
DIMAPUR, MARCH 8 : After a considerable time during which some amount of tension and friction had been witnessed among the signatories to the Covenant of Reconciliation (COR), the Naga reconciliation process appear to be back on track at least for now with the Joint Working Group having a crucial meeting today in the presence of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). Following today’s meet, a joint statement was issued by the JWG reaffirming that the Highest Level Summit (HLS) of the Naga political leaders was a “priority” and also clearly stating that the three signatories will “not swerve from the commitment made before God to the Naga people”. The JWG also expressed the hope that today’s commitment following the meeting of the JWG would lead to “building trust amongst us and further prepare the way for immediate consummation of the Naga reconciliation process”.
“Albeit, we realize in the urgency of the summit, due to our finite nature, we confess that the process has been at times, stalled but not cast off”, stated the joint statement signed by Gen (Retd) VS Atem, Zhopra Vero and C. Singson, Convener JWG respectively of the NSCN/GPRN, FGN/NNC and GPRN/NSCN.
With regard to the Highest Level Summit, the joint statement has also called upon the Naga people to keep “our hope alive through faith and prayers and by remaining vigilant”. “We must not let any coercive elements undermine our historical and political de-facto”, the joint statement stated.
Pointing out that the JWG would “relentlessly pursue the commitments made”, the joint statement resolved that a “complete status-quo by the signatories of the COR be maintained” as agreed and resolved on several occasions and ratified on October 9, 2010 at Dimapur. Further it resolved that the “military activities and movements of the respective governments including cadres etc., should remain confined to their own and respective jurisdictions” as agreed upon earlier by the JWG on October 9, 2010. “To be sure, this resolution is reaffirmed on this day the March 8, 2011”, it stated.
