By Dilip Dutta
Dimapur, Feb 25 : The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has appealed to all Naga groups not to take any provocative steps, be it in terms of action or words, that may jeopardize its effort to restore peace in Nagaland.
The FNR, which is spearheading the Naga reconciliation process, has also announced that the highest-level meeting of the Naga political groups was imminent.
"It has been the prayer and desire of the Nagas that the reconciliation process is accomplished at the highest-level meeting between the signatories of the Covenant of Reconciliation. It is self-evident that the meeting is of absolute necessity and lasting reconciliation has to be achieved based on the Nagas' historical and political rights," an FNR functionary said on Thursday.
The FNR said all those who were ready for the reconciliation, and the Nagas in general, should be vigilant against "all internal and external forces" that might oppose the process. "It's the mandate of the Nagas that the top leaders of the (Naga) political groups together finalize the reconciliation process. All steps must be taken to safeguard the sanctity of the meeting," it said.
The FNR functionary also urged all groups to uphold and respect their pledge to resolve their differences through non-violence.
The NSCN(IM) on Thursday declared that the collective leadership of the outfit would try its best to ensure that the FNR's reconciliation bid was a success.
The NSCN(IM) said in a statement it's duty-bound "to frequently interact with the Nagas, whoever they may be and wherever they are, on the current peace process and reconciliation. "There's nothing wrong for us to go to the far-east, west, north or south of Nagalim (greater Nagaland). It is also not a taboo for us to do so," the statement read.
It added that though the NSCN(IM) was involved in the peace process, a number of its men were killed allegedly by the rival Khaplang faction of the outfit in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. "We will not allow our enemies to treat us like sitting ducks. However, we reassure (all) of its commitment towards working for peace." the NSCN(IM) said.
On the other hand, appreciating the peace initiative undertaken by the Fo-rum for Naga Reconciliation (FRN) and the Nagas' positive response to-wards it, the Senior Citizens' Forum of Mokokchung on Thursday ap-pealed to all sections of society to work unitedly for a solution to decades of disagreements.
The Senior Citizens' Forum observed that by recognizing each other "as Naga patriots", every faction should forgive each other, forget all personal grudges and work towards a political solution to the Naga imbroglio.
A statement signed by 12 members of the citizens' forum suggested that a platform of the Naga Consultative Meet be worked out at the highest level as suggested by a Joint Working Group (representing three prominent groups) at the earliest. They said there's no time for criticizing each other or claiming champion-ship or pioneership over the Naga movement. "It's time to work together and find a political solution," they added.
The Senior Citizens' Forum felt that reconciliation process should be based on the principles of the historical facts and the political history and situation that took place on August 14, 1947 and the "Naga plebiscite conducted on May 16, 1951".
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