Naga re-conciliation and peace convention from Feb 21

With an aim to end factional fight between Naga groups, a two-day reconciliation and peace convention will be held in Kohima from February 21.

With an aim to end factional fight between Naga groups, a two-day reconciliation and peace convention will be held in Kohima from February 21.

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The convention, being organised by Forum for Naga Re-conciliation, will seek to send a message to Naga underground groups engaged in bitter fight to end bloodshed, its convener Rev Wati Aier told newsmen in Kohima on Thursday.

The FNR, comprising tribal hohos (councils), churches and civil society groups, initiated the Naga re-conciliation process about a year ago at the height of factional killing among underground groups, he said adding that all the factions of the armed group have given their consent to the initiative.

The Nagaland government has extended full support to the re-conciliation move saying the effort initiated by churches and civil societies has helped in bringing down the number of factional killings in the state since July last year.

The proposed convention is the outcome of Naga gathering held on September 25 last year at Dimapur where 37 organisations, including hohos (councils), churches and civil society groups, had expressed their wish for a mass gathering to carry forward the re-conciliation process, Aier said.

He also said that the process was at a "hopeful stage" and once it materialised, the next stage would be for the Naga groups to decide the political course for settlement of the prolonged conflict.