Ukhrul, August 23: Leaders of Naga political factions, tribal organizations and reconciliation groups gathered in the historic village of Ungma in Nagaland state’s Mokokchung district on Saturday and pledged to pursue a common political vision, framing the moment as a step toward reconciliation after years of internal division in one of South Asia’s longest-running ethnic struggles.
Sixteen Naga Political Groups, 34 tribal hohos and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation met under the banner of the Council of Naga Cooperation and Relationship. The meeting was hosted by the Ao Senden and welcomed by the Ungma Village Council, which marked the occasion with a traditional genna, closing the village gates for two days as a sign of sacred commitment.
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The joint statement, released at the end of the meeting, urged all Naga groups to “converge at a Common Ground” without preconditions or competing narratives, and declared that “Nagas are one.” The declaration was framed as a covenant, not a resolution, and called for forgiveness and healing to overcome decades of division.
The statement follows earlier efforts this year, including a January 14 treatise and subsequent resolutions, aimed at bridging splits among rival Naga factions. Despite numerous peace talks with New Delhi over the years, internal rivalries have slowed progress on a final settlement.
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By affirming unity “before God and the Naga people,” the signatories sought to give moral weight to the pledge. “Let this be remembered as the day the Naga people chose convergence over fragmentation, vision over rhetoric, and future over fear,” the statement said.
For many Nagas, the gathering at Ungma — one of the oldest Ao villages — carried both symbolic and political importance. Whether the commitment made on Saturday leads to lasting unity, however, remains to be seen.
