Peace-building calls for collective effort

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 20: Expounding that every person in his or her own right is a peace maker, Editor of Morung Express Dr. Akum Longchari stressed on the needs for collective effort and redefining the meaning of peace ‘beyond mere absence of war.’ Peace is the need that everybody is clamouring for. However, peace is not achieved and the Naga society is still searching for peace, said Dr. Akum Longchari, while speaking at the one-day programme on peace building on November 19 on the theme ‘The role of churches in building sustainable peace.’ The programme was organised by Peace Channel in collaboration with North East Institute of Social Science & Research, (NEISSR) under the aegis Inter- Denominational Coalition for Peace at NEISSR conference hall, Dimapur. Stating that every person in his or her own right is a peace maker, he cited instances where mothers have to make peace between children or an individual to broker peace between circles of friends. Delving deeper into the dynamics of peace making, he involved volunteers in the exercise who were named as Truth, Mercy, Justice and Peace. Through interaction and relevant examples, he interacted on the importance of all these values in building a sustainable peace. He also cite example where peace building was initiated after the First World War using Justice and Truth alone and how it fail to contribute to sustainable peace. He also narrated examples from the Apartheid regime in South Africa, where Truth and Mercy was stressed but found Justice missing in it. In his concluding remarks, he said ‘All these values of Truth, Mercy, Justice and Peace are a pre-requisite to build sustainable and lasting peace.’ In his welcome address, Dr. CP Anto, Director of Peace Channel & Principal, NEISSR, spoke on the importance of bringing people together for peace building to happen. ‘It is a time we all feel and work together for peace. Years of research and assessment have proved that religious leaders can bring peace,’ he said. He said the programme was a humble initiative to bridge the gap that the Naga society faced, which was created by the lack of peace builders. He was confidence that the programme will equipped the participants to uphold the values and ideals of sustainable peace and most importantly make them agents of peace. In his exhortation, Rev. Dr. Shiwoto, President of Dimapur Christian Forum, spoke on the need of cultivating ‘vertical peace’ which according to him has been endowed on everyone by virtue of being children of God. Rev. Yanbemo Lotha, Pastor of Lotha Baptist Church Dimapur, also exhorted the participants on the ‘need of volunteerism’ when it comes to building sustainable peace. He shared certain incidents from his life experiences where he volunteered to venture into situation to prevent it from becoming violent. Rev. Meingandai Gangmei, Pastor of Rongmei Baptist Church, invoked God’s blessing for the success of the programme. The programme as attended by religious leaders, women representatives, teachers, locality leaders and students of NEISSR. The programme concluded with the formulation of action plans where all the participants decided to organise similar programmes in their locality in the future.