Five Baptist leaders write letters to NSCN leaders
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, August 19 2011:
Following up the landmark World Baptist Alliance General Council resolution on Naga reconciliation at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during July 4-9, 2011, five renown baptist leaders have written to Naga leaders challenging them to make their pledge to Naga reconciliation a fulfilled reality.
The five Baptist leaders are Neville Callam, Raimundu Barreto, Jr, Kenneth L Sehested, Dan Buttry and John A Sundquist.
In their letter dated August 4, the baptist leaders sent separate letters to Isak Swu, Th Muivah, SS Khaplang, Gen Khole Konyak, N Kitovit Zhimomi, Brig (retd) Singnya and Zhopra Vero.
All the letters were copied to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the contents identical.
The FNR press note said while encouraged by the continuing progress of the Naga reconciliation process, the baptist leaders applauded the increasing role and commitment of the Naga leaders to the covenant of reconciliation.
They implored the signatories of the covenant of reconciliation to participate in the reconciliation meeting of the Naga leaders facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation as early as possible, it added.
Their letter emphasised that the participation of Naga leaders in the reconciliation meeting would be central in reaching a sustainable reconciliation agreement among the Naga groups, said the FNR.
During the last three and a half years, the Naga people have time and again called upon the Naga leaders to meet and consummate the reconciliation process.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation must place on record that, on September 25, 2008 at the Sumi Baptist Church Dimapur, 47 Naga organizations and the Church; on February 21-22, 2009 at Kohima during the Naga Peace Convention, 45 Naga organizations and the Church; on August 26, 2009 at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur, 46 Naga organizations and the Church; and on November 18, 2010, 40 Naga organizations and the Church at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur have called for the immediate meeting of top leaders of the Naga political groups to meet for reconciliation on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas, the FNR statement said.
"At this time when Nagas are undergoing a period of uncertainty and insecurity about their future, it is only imperative that the Naga leaders need to bestow confidence and provide a clear direction and pathway to a shared Naga future.
It is now time for the Naga leaders to respond to the call to attend the reconciliation meeting of the top leaders.
It is now time to speak out, before your silence is misunderstood by the people," the Forum for Naga Reconciliation stated.