NAGALAND

Nagas have been in conflict with the government of India from the time of independence from the British Empire. The conflict became violent in 1955. A flawed peace agreement in 1975 (The Shillong Accord) led to the fracturing of the Naga political organization, and violence between the Nagas groups became as serious a problem as violence between the Indian army and Naga insurgents.

In 1996, while working with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and in conjunction with International Ministries we sponsored peace talks among the Naga factions in Atlanta. There were many problems and limitations with the Atlanta talks, but they were the first step in a peace effort that eventually led to cease-fires between the Naga groups and the Indian army as well as informal cease-fires between Naga groups.

After training and strategy sessions in 1999 Naga civil society groups including church leaders launched the “Journey of Conscience: From the Heart of Nagaland to the Soul of India.” This major action and following activities changed the political dynamics, linking Naga and Indian civil society groups to develop a peace constituency. It also spurred India to move from cease-fire talks to political talks with Naga leaders.

I have been frequently traveling to India to conduct conflict transformation training with Nagas, to teach conflict transformation in Naga educational institutions, and to train insurgent leaders in how to enter into negotiations about their political issues rather than pursuing violent means to attain their goals.

In 2008 a new stage of the Naga reconciliation process developed through the work of the civil society groups who formed the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. The FNR sponsored a series of meetings in Chiang Mai, Thailand which made historic breakthroughs in getting leaders from the armed groups to meet each other as well as traditional tribal leaders. That reconciliation process has now returned to Nagaland and broadened into the larger public. I have worked closely with the FNR along with a team of British Quakers to help facilitate processes and train and advise the FNR.

News Source: Morung Express