Fellow people of God and of common belonging; this day is significant for the Nagas and our other sisters and brothers living in all of Naga-Land. It is significant firstly, that the day marks the beginning of the tenth year of the signing of the “Covenant of Reconciliation” (CoR) and, secondly, for the abiding memory of the CoR and for its unreserved commitment by the signatories. Amidst the dark cloud of Naga “factional” violence and killings, in March 2008, FNR was named with the mandate of 37 Naga bodies from across Naga-Land and the various Church Councils. Under such a stormy condition, FNR’s first objective was to bring the then four groups –NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), NNC (Adino), and NNC (Singnya and Zhopra), by sitting across the table to cease all forms of violence. With persistence and prayers, after 21 meetings, officially authorized representatives from the NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and FGN/NNC (SZ), the “Covenant of Reconciliation” was signed by the late Isak Chishi Swu, Late SS Khaplang, and Brig (Retd) S Singnya, on this day, nine years ago. This signing drastically reduced the level of violence and bloodshed and provided avenues for complete cessation of armed confrontation and taking of lives. The credit goes to the Naga Political groups (NPGs), the various apex Naga organizations of women and men, the Church, and Nagas and non-Naga citizens for the support in walking the CoR for these past 9 years. Above everything, we unreservedly acknowledge the work of God in Christ.
From the CoR, Naga political groups, and almost every woman and man have benefited. It opened an atmosphere of safe travels for the NPGs without the fear of becoming a victim of another group. The citizens experienced a sigh of relief in accomplishing their daily chores without fear. Above all, the haunting sense of an unknown evil fled from the psyche of most people. The impact has led to the psychological emancipation of great measure.
Side by side, business community began blossoming, shops and eateries remained open for a good part of the evening, in major towns of Nagaland, as opposed to the closures at sun down a decade ago. Structural development began unabated. School going children, boys and girls however, have not experienced what it was like more than a decade ago they are recipients of the CoR benefits. Those young men and women who were children ten years ago, can today attest to the fact of the past without fear. Today, daily gun battles among NNGs, in villages and towns are almost a thing of the past. To this, all must remain committed.
The Home Ministry of the Government of India acknowledged the CoR and the cessation of violence among the NPGs by the then Secretary, Mr. GK Pillai in his visit to Kohima. Soon a suit was followed by lifting the Protected Area Permit (PAP), then known as the “Restricted Area Permit” (RAP), required by any foreign national visiting Nagaland. The Government of the State of Nagaland, under Mr. N Rio, the Chief Minister, welcomed the CoR and thanked the signatories and other apex organizations followed suit. Soon media journalists and reporters were writing the story of the CoR in leading media in India and in the academic institutions on Conflict Transformation lessons from the CoR are discussed as a paradigm.
FNR with the people continue to walk the “Journey of Common Hope.” Reconciliation is no one’s monopoly, FNR is not the only one that is in this mission. We acknowledge and affirm different organizations ranging from women, students, to churches, Hohos, and other bodies working for a common good. FNR calls upon all to appreciate and support one another in this great work of reconciliation. Let us give up the dividing by which we conquer ourselves.
Over the last nine years, much has changed, yet much needs to change. The challenge is to keep working on reconciliation of not only the NPGs but also the public. This is what the times require of us. We must overcome the trouble that reinforces our dismal worldview. A common will is required to lead us to the future. With this in mind, FNR has marked 2018, as the year of “Walking the Naga Day.” We believe that it begins by imagining the future today. FNR believe we have to hope, and hope in this sense is something we can learn through engaging with one another and discovering who we are as persons and at the same time as a people with a distinct identity. We believe that we must resist all ease which leads to despair. Together, we want to dig the tunnels of limited world view conditioned by our culture and the present world view. Together, we must cut the dense jungle that is suffocating our young minds. Together, we want to connect the divide and build bridges. FNR believe that we can talk about both the terrible things of the past so as to forgive one another and restore healthy living. We are Walking the Naga Day, in confidence to endeavor to keep pursuing the possibilities to be winners and achievers. We encourage all to stand up and participate, to look forward at what we can do. Today let us make the day of commitment and creation of the new.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am here today to share my personal journey with the idea and practice of forgiveness.
On September 23, 1992, when I was still in school, my father Chalie Kevichusa was shot and killed not far from here. My younger sister was with him that day and was also injured. At the funeral, my father’s elder brother Khrielie Kevichusa said: “We as a family forgive those who have done this.” On June 4, 1996, less than four years since my father’s killing, my uncle Tubu Kevichusa was also shot dead. This time in his home, in the middle of the night, in front of his young daughter, young son, and wife who was pregnant with their third child. At his funeral, my uncle Khrielie again got up and said we forgive those who have done this.
These two killings have traumatised, influenced, and changed our lives as a family and as individuals.
Since the time my father was killed I have lived with the belief that I have for-given those responsible, that I must forgive, that forgiveness is the right thing to do. Forgiveness does not mean I don’t feel the pain anymore; it does not mean I have a memory lapse and forget what was done to my father and uncle. For me, to for-give means while I embrace the pain, and even the anger, I also refuse to partner with hate, the longing for vengeance, or the desire to see the perpetrators suffer. Forgiveness looks like never bringing up the same issue in the future to accuse or demand revenge.
When I was approached to speak today, I had to ask myself again: “Why do I forgive?”
First, I have learned that to live with unforgiveness is to choose to live in a prison even though I have the key to my freedom. Living with unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping my enemy will die.
Second, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that following Jesus means following his way - and the way of Jesus is always the way of forgiveness. If I refuse to forgive, I personally cannot claim to be a follower of the One who, with his dying breath, prayed for the forgiveness of those who nailed him to a cross.
Third, I forgive because I believe without forgiveness we cannot move forward. We cannot keep holding on to the past if we expect to take hold of the future. We can and must remember the past, but we cannot and must not remain there. If our memories of the past are greater than our dreams for the future, we are already dying.
I pray God’s wisdom upon us as we navigate our way through our politics and our perspectives, our prejudices and our personal pain, to arrive at a place where we can move forward as forgiven and forgiving people. Amen.
One night in the month of May, 1987, my family and I were woken up from our deep sleep. I was a young school going kid then, and all of us five siblings with our parents woke up to the commo-tion around us. As I opened my sleepy eyes: I was shocked to see many men in uniform search-ing all our rooms for things unknown to us then. They ransacked our whole house and after a Mile, left with my father. Later on, we found out that dad had been imprisoned and they kept him away for 15 days, during which he was interrogated. Many people who knew us then, and our family ourselves, we were in shock and fear.
You see, my father, Rev. Chingang Konyak, was the Konyak Bible translator at that time. He and mom committed their lives to serving God and brought us up in that way. Asa minister of God, he served and continues to serve the Church and our society. He was also part of the peace talks as a mediator between the Government of India and the Naga political group, then the NSCN. I remember he would be gone for days: weeks, sometimes: months in the 80s, for such work. I also remember, he put his life at risk by doing so, and being nearly killed one time in the lung. of Myanmar during one of the mission trips. He was also misunderstood at times.
When my mom took me and my siblings to see dad in the prison, I remember going there with a heavy heart. His beard had grown and he looked different, but I vividly remember his countenance... he was the same reassuring father I know. As we spoke to him worried!, he said to us ‘,on, worry, be strong. Its all in God’s hands. Keep praying”.
I know I am not the only one with a story like this in this room. Many of us have been directly or indi-rectly affected by our ongoing Naga struggle as a nation.
In a troubled land like ours, it is easy to succumb to our circumstances. It is easy to lose hope and find life meaningless. It is easy to nurture apathy, distrust, fear, and misconception about ourselves, others: and our systems. It is easy to be stuck in the past and unable to pave a positive future for our-selves.
It is also easy to deny the past, erase past traumas from our consciousness- yet struggle with the consequences of doing so. When we are unable to build a verbal narrative of our painful experiences, symptoms will appear eventually.
However we have a choice not to do so - A choice to rather seek forgiveness, understanding, and goodwill.
Life opportunities to do good and to pursue goodwill exist. I found out this simple truth from my par-ents way of living aswell as in places I never imagined I would be. Living and working among the Karen refugees and displaced communities in the Thai-Myanmar borders for couple of years, and also going on mission trips to the Native American folks in their reservations in South Dakota, helped me realize that even in the depth of hopelessness, people can still rise above their circumstances and find hope. Not that people were not dying in those places,where humanity is at its worst, yet the power to survive as a nation exist and enable hope to be realized.
Being on this journey with FNR, has also opened my eyes and heart to our current circumstances. I know many of you present here and all around us: have made immense sacrifices and invested your lives for the common good of our Naga people. Without your commitment to the process, our Naganess and what we are would diminish. However, one thing I observe, if you will, is the way we are forging ahead. There is the need to reason together to address the unspeakable traumas of our past, to listen, to understand, to work out our differences, to strengthen our bond, and to restore relationships individu-ally as well as collectively.
And that, is my hope!
