The ball is in Nagas’ court — Rev. Mero

KOHIMA — “Whenever we talk about our (Naga) political solution, some say that the ball is in the court of the Government of India, but I would say the ball is in our court,” Rev. Khrotso Mero said on Wednesday.

He said this while addressing the 60th Indo-Naga Ceasefire Day at Chedema Peace Camp.

Pointing out that Nagas are sharply divided politically and are at a very critical juncture, Mero, former executive secretary of Chakhesang Baptist Churches Council, said Nagas should not be passive and inactive any more.

He emphasised the need to seek God in prayer, to let him heal the land. ‘When we make peace with God, we also should make peace with men,’ he added.

Highlighting the historical significance of the day, he said the NBCC initiated “peace work” and peace came to the land on September 6, 1964; subsequently, Nagas observe the Peace Day every year, celebrating the goodness and faithfulness of God towards the Nagas.

“This day is for all the Nagas irrespective of different church affiliation and different political groups. This day comes as a great relief to our people, a breathing space for us and to ponder as to how Nagas have to move forward. This is a day to let the young generation also know the aspiration of the Nagas and familiarise with our political stand and history of the Nagas,” he said.

The reverend said that ‘the day is also a day to give due respect to all the national workers, irrespective of different political groups, who have laid their lives for the cause of Nagas and those who are still actively involved in nation building, not forgetting the Peace Mission members under the leadership of NBCC for their tireless and selfless efforts to bring peace in the land’.

The chronology of the Nagas as a sovereign people, which came with the annexation of the British, the submission of memorandum to the Simon Commission, then the formation of NNC and the signing of 9-Point Agreement in 1947, followed by 1951 Plebiscite and other events were shared.

While highlighting the signing of Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 and Agreed Position in 2017 between the Naga political groups and the government of India, he lamented that there are as many as 18 different groups at present, all claiming to be national workers.

Saluting the pathfinders for working tirelessly to bring peace into the land, he said ‘the seniors have done their part but the present generation has failed the people in so many ways, bringing about divisions, brokenness, egoism, selfishness, dishonesty, hatred, and the list goes on’.

“Politically, socially, economically, spiritually our walls are broken,” he lamented.

Mero opined that full-fledged sovereignty and final settlement for the Nagas may take time but the recent two agreements — Framework Agreement and Agreed Position — can be settled soon. ‘This is achievable. This solution should be sorted out first among the national workers,’ he pointed out.

He said all the Naga political groups should unite first in order to bring about an acceptable solution. “Humanly speaking it is not easy, but our God is a God of possibilities; through Christ we can expect an honourable solution,” he added.

Expressing concern over several problems confronting the society today, he stressed the need to bring a ‘change to this sick society’. He went on to say that ‘people who can speak the truth, educate and conscientise our people with Christian principles’ are needed to bring a positive change.

In love there is peace, he said, while emphasising the need to ‘accept one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, serve others with love, live at peace with one another, show love with forgiveness, act humbly towards others’.

Lhouvitsü, Speaker, Tatar Hoho, FGN, also delivered a short speech at the event.

Also read: Naga Council Dimapur demands reinstatement of sub-offices, reiterates lifting of NLTP Act