"Naga parliamentarians should be bighearted:" Krome
Source: Oken Jeet Sandham (NEPS) *

Kohima, April 25 2010: Member of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and General Secretary of Naga Hoho, Neingulo Krome agreed that the Naga parliamentarians had a tendency that "if the solution to the Naga issue comes, they will be affected and they will be nowhere" .

Talking to NEPS here on Sunday, the FNR, however, allayed fear that in reality, bureaucrats would be there to run the Government and at the same time, how could they expect those who had fewer experiences to run the affairs of the Government.

"Overground people will be there," he added saying, "They should not be so apprehensive, rather they be bighearted.

They should be ready to accept new responsibilities" .

On the shared sovereignty concept mooted by India's interlocutor RS Pandey for finding solution to Naga problem, Krome reacted to the idea saying "sovereignty cannot be shared by two nations." On this, the Government of India should come up with a little more clarification as what they meant by "shared sovereignty" .

On some Indian intellectuals' comments that the Nagas already enjoyed unprecedented leverage under Article 371A of the Constitution, Krome said it was below Jammu and Kashmir status.

The Jammu and Kashmir had even a separate Constitution, he added.

FNR Member and Naga Hoho General Secretary Neingulo Krome Pix by Oken Jeet Sandham

Agreeing that the neighboring communities like Meeteis, Assamese and Arunachale felt threatened by the coming of the solution to the Naga issue, the Naga Hoho leader said they should appreciate the reality of their movement and struggle, while the Nagas also should reciprocate to their feelings and apprehensions.

"What is fear should be jointly addressed," he added saying "there is need to have a confidence building amongst them but sadly this is lacking" .

The Naga Hoho leader also said he was overwhelmed by the positive results pouring in through their "selfless initiative"---"A Covenant of Common Hope" which was agreed upon by leaders of various Naga underground groups.

He recalled how difficult the process they initially faced when putting their best efforts together to bring leaders of warring factions on the same table to affect a genuine "reconciliation" amongst them.

This process, he called it, was to "achieve the purpose of our existence on earth by overcoming the biggest roadblocks which are now our own internal differences and contradictions and not the enemies fought together for decades" .

Disclosing that they could successfully organize seven Chiang Mai Meets since May 2008, Krome said the first two Meets still failed to mend ways amongst leaders of various factions.

Even while going to Chiang Mai, leaders of factions even refused to travel in the same aircraft.

They could not see even face to face at the Hotel at Chiang Mai where they had meetings as part of the initial reconciliation process.

It was unbelievable actually that at last they would start mending their ways, he narrated.

The leaders of the FNR were worried as they could not see immediate solution to their differences.

They finally thought out to organize a "soccer match" amongst them at Chiang Mai itself to break the ice after the Third Chiang Mai Meet.

"This soccer match worked wonders and it inspired every one of them and came to conclusion that they should exhibit such "rare moment" in their home soil.

"That was how they first organized the "soccer match between the combined team of factions and NGOs and civil societies at Kohima," he stated.

And as further demanded by many that the same be arranged at Dimapur, hotbed of factionalism, to demonstrate their oneness, they successfully staged another "soccer match" for the third time at Dimapur," he added.

"I am overjoyed today at seeing the soccer match played against a combined team drawn up from various groups," he said.

"I could also see the unprecedented feeling of camaraderie amongst them too when they started mingling one another.

It is now like a mission accomplished" .

The former Human Rights activist also disclosed that top leaderships of the factions were yet to meet.

"They have expressed their willingness to meet," Krome said.

NSCN (IM) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu had even talked NSCN (K) Chairman SS Khaplang over phone at least three times during our presence at Chiang Mai.

"This is a great moment indeed and huge positive towards the reconciliation process.

The only problem is bringing them on the same table.

This is not that easy" .

On Muivah's reported adamant towards unity and reconciliation, the Naga Hoho General Secretary denied such development.

He rather stated his (Muivah) lieutenants were more arrogant than him.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at nepsonline(at)yahoo(dot)com .