ANSAM optimistic
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 10 2013: All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has expressed optimism with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR)'s proposal to set up a Naga National Government (NNG) involving all the Naga underground organisations.

"The Naga peoples' pursuit for its historical and political rights has been a tumultuous and 'time-tested' journey.

"The common vision and aspiration of the people has often been blighted by internal rifts, peace and trust deficit," ANSAM stated today.

According to ANSAM, the birth of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) not only ushered a renewed hope for realization of a common vision but it has taken the walk extra miles to chart out an inclusive roadmap and a sense of purpose for furtherance of lasting peace in Nagalim and towards realization of the common Naga aspiration.

"While appreciating the ceaseless efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) for cessation of hostilities amongst the various Naga national groups, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) express optimism with its proposal for setting up of a provisional Naga National Government (NNG-P) .

At the backdrop of this development, ANSAM appeals to all the Naga people to extend support and solidarity with the FNR for a Journey of Common Hope", it added.

The ANSAM then urges upon all the signatories to uphold the sanctity of the "Covenant of Reconciliation" On July 7, the FNR had said the structural framework in the form of a provisional Naga National Government (NNG-Provisional), as agreed upon in the Naga Concordant, is required to be accommodative of all Naga underground groups, according to Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) .

Naga National Government (NNG) is a term coined two years ago which is a proposed common government to be formed by all the Naga underground organisations.

This statement of the FNR came after it had convened another round of Naga reconciliation programme at Chiangmai in Thailand recently involving Naga underground organisations.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation had said it made that call after five years of continuously forming relationships, discerning challenges and dilemmas, overcoming deadlocks, developing trust, discovering common ground, and learning the various perspectives and positions of the Naga political (underground) groups.

"In order to strengthen the Covenant of Reconciliation and move forward together, structural transformation shaping a reconciled political reality within Naga society is needed.

This imperative is more urgently felt in light of the present circumstances," the FNR had stated.

"The structural framework in the form of a provisional Naga National Government NNG (P), as agreed upon in the Naga Concordant, is required to be accommodative of all Naga Political Groups.

This is in the common cause of pursuing in a united effort our shared historical and political rights and creating a dignified and peaceful society," it stated.

The NNG (P) needs to incorporate ways to organize and to inter-relate with mutual respect among all Naga Political Groups towards a shared Naga future, according to the FNR.

The Forum then said, the NNG (P) as a reconciled political structure is based on the principles of the Covenant of Reconciliation and the commitment that all groups will cease all violent and provocative actions while honouring the code of conduct as agreed in the 'turning swords into Plough shares' with an inbuilt disciplinary mechanism.

It also said the NNG (P) is required to be people-centered and guided by the common aspirations of the people, and not by any particular group.

"The NNG (P) should pursue the realization of the Naga aspirations consistent with the principles of justice in which the Nagas can determine, safeguard and exercise their historical and political rights in the contemporary world," the FNR suggests.

"The Forum for Naga Reconciliation remains grateful to the Churches, Naga public, civil society (tribe organizations, women, youth, students, and particularly the Naga political groups) for their consistent and critical solidarity throughout the Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope," the FNR added.

"Finally, we are mindful and thankful of God's ever presence, guidance and blessings in our common search to be reconciled as a nation," the Forum stated.

Formed in 2008 to reconcile among the warring Naga underground outfits, the FNR members drawn from various Naga civil bodies, activists and intellectuals had organised football matches for these various Naga underground outfits both in Nagaland and abroad.

Several reconciliation meetings were also convened under the aegis of FNR in Nagaland, Thailand and elsewhere.

Following these, the warring Naga underground organisations had ceased to fight among themselves both physically and in the media.

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