Chumukedima, Nagaland, January 14 (HBTV): The Naga underground groups under the banner of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has claimed to ‘confess’ what they called “shortcomings” before “God, to the Naga people, and to our neighbor” for ‘faltering, hurting each other and angering the people through words and actions.’   

The Naga political groups issued a joint statement received here on January 14 signed by their representatives following a meeting on the day in Chumukedima. They met “rcognizing the deep turmoil and anguish of the Naga people.”   

“Recognizing the deep turmoil and anguish of the Naga people, we the authorized representatives of Naga Political Groups met on January 14, 2025 in Chumoukedima, Nagaland, to honestly reason together and explore constructive ways out of the impasse,” it stated.

“Today, we testify God's love and faithfulness even in the midst of our failure. Therefore, we pledge to be steadfast in our collective commitment towards finding common ground.”

“In the process of pursuing Naga aspirations we have faltered, hurt each other and angered our people through words and actions. We confess these shortcomings before God, to the Naga people, and to our neighbours. Hence, we stand to becoming more self-vigilant, responsible, and accountable,” the groups stated. .

They expressed commitment to strengthen the 2009 Covenant of Reconciliation, and honoring the Naga historical and political rights as expressed through the Naga Memorandum to Simon Commission of 1929, Declaration of Naga Independence in 1947 and Naga Voluntary Plebiscite of 1951.

Further, the statement said the groups recognize that the Naga ancestral territories and “peoplehood cuts across all artificial boundaries, and we will continue to safeguard and protect these inalienable rights together as a people. “

As an outcome of today's meeting, the statement stated, they organizations have agreed to implement the Council of Naga Cooperation and Relationship, a working mechanism, ‘to move forward in unity.’    

“We sincerely implead (sic) and invite all Naga Political Groups and Naga Public to be part of this process,” the organizations added.