The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has issued a heartfelt response to the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) following their communiqué, “An Appeal to FNR and Sumi Apex Bodies”, acknowledging past shortcomings while reaffirming its commitment to the ongoing journey of Naga reconciliation and unity.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the FNR said it received the appeal “not merely as correspondence, but as a moral and spiritual reminder,” urging all stakeholders to reflect and respond “with sincerity and courage.”

It stated that the Naga journey to reconciliation has been difficult and challenging yet also filled with renewed hope, and credited the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) for their commitment to peace. “The end of factional violence has given the public a sense of peace, security, and wellbeing. This credit goes to the Naga Political Groups,” it said.

Admitting that it has not always met public expectations, the FNR offered an unreserved apology. “It is not a matter of ‘if’ the FNR has erred — we have made mistakes. And so, the FNR says Sorry, and we seek forgiveness from the Naga people not conditionally, not hypothetically, but truthfully,” the statement read. Since its formation in 2008, the FNR said it has walked alongside the Naga people “not as perfect companions, but as fellow learners and sojourners,” acknowledging that the journey has involved growth, faltering, and evolution.

The forum noted that the reconciliation process gained fresh momentum earlier this year when Naga Political Groups proposed the inclusion of Naga tribe hohos as an integral part of the process on February 18, 2025. Subsequent meetings hosted by the Angami Public Organisation (APO) in Jotsoma on July 24 and the Ao Senden in Ungma on August 23 have helped nurture confidence-building and solidarity among Naga tribes and political groups. The upcoming September 27 meeting in Zunheboto, to be hosted by the Sumi Hoho, is a continuation of this collective effort.

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“We are all bound by a moral and spiritual imperative to do what is best for the Naga people,” the FNR stated, praising the ecological sensitivity and thoughtful contributions of the tribe hohos despite the challenges they face.

The forum appealed to all parties to come together in Zunheboto and give a renewed chance to the future of the Naga political destiny, stressing that the moment must be one of convergence, not division, and of courage, not hesitation.

Reiterating its impartial role, the FNR affirmed that Naga reconciliation is inclusive of all Naga people and that its responsibility is to bring all Naga political groups together in the spirit of genuine forgiveness and reconciliation so that they can pursue the Naga historical and political rights. It also underlined that in the spirit of reconciliation and oneness of all Nagas, the FNR will not take any sides but will maintain its impartial stand towards the NPGs.

Expressing trust in the wisdom of the Working Committee, NNPGs, the forum urged them to support the call for unity “not for FNR’s sake, but for the sake of our shared future.”

The Zunheboto meeting is widely seen as a critical step in bridging long-standing political divides and carrying forward the spirit of the Covenant of Reconciliation of 2009 and the September Joint Accordant of 2022, as Nagas continue their quest for a peaceful and honourable political solution.