It was on October 31 that a faction of the NNC also known as GDRN/NNC led by its president, Khumcho Chilimong and ato kilonser (Prime Minister) Hangping Zeliang announced that it is officially dissolving and merging with the NSCN(IM). They also informed all their members that they shall not affiliate with any other organisation other than the one they have merged with. A list of names and designation of the cadres of the organisation amounting to more than a hundred was also released to the media. Even though it is a group that is nondescript compared to the others in terms of its size and operation, the merger have at least resulted in one group/faction less in the already numerous Naga political groups that are in existence in Nagaland at present.
In the last three days there have been not a single civil society that have reacted to the news nor any church body, when talk about unity from these bodies has reached levels never before attained. This in no way has to be considered as giving a blank cheque to the policies and stands of the two groups that merged. However in a place that had seen so much of killings due to the internecine conflicts, that prompted the people through the civil societies and the church to voice out openly to the groups to shun violence and unite, such events should have some endorsement along with conditions too if necessary.
It is also an accepted fact that the dynamics of the Naga national groups in the recent years are hard to understand since the people were witness to a few mergers that led to more divisions and killing in the past. But it is also time that the groups are made to understand where the aspirations of the people rests and such opportunities like the present one come rarely.
So many lives have been lost in the conflict that is the oldest in the region. Many of the cadres have also died whether in line of duty fighting opposing forces, executions, sickness, accidents and also in some cases lynching due to public rage. However the death of every cadre of any of the groups, however small, and in whatever the circumstance will always be a statistical headcount that will add to the number of deaths due to the Indo-Naga imbroglio. Instances like the present case require more public support with laid out conditions for the groups since the unique Naga traditional system provides that right to the tribal/village bodies.
The ceasefire between the government and almost all the groups are in place and a semblance of peace is slowly coming back. This should actually re-energise the civil societies and all the church bodies to work more for the unity among the Nagas.
