Victims of border skirmishes limp back to normalcy

Guwahati: Normalcy has gradually returned to villages on the Assam-Nagaland border that had witnessed ethnic violence over a year ago, thanks to the efforts of a peace team and security forces.

“It is dialogue alone that opens a door to peace. The army will be withdrawn. The police will move away. The administration is at a distance. Local dialogue alone can guarantee a peaceful future,” asserted Retired Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, leader of Joint Peace Mission Team of Northeast India.

The peace team was on its fourth visit to the affected area where ethnic violence had forced some 20,000 Adivasis, Bodos and other tribals to flee from their villages over a year ago.

“While you are primarily concerned for your own problems, think also about the anxiety of the other persons or groups,” Archbishop Menamparampil told the two groups,” the Salesian prelate told the concluding a peace meeting at Ghulapani in the Uriamghat area of Assam near the Nagaland border.

The prelate also said dialogue can become possible if the groups become mindful of the concerns of the others. “Ongoing dialogue alone can ensure a peaceful future. We all have a stake in that future,” he added.

Rev. Bernard Marak of the Baptist Church, a member of the team, said that the support of the Peace Team had greatly encouraged the people in their efforts for peace. In fact, dialogue has seriously begun at the local level and most people have returned to their homes.

There are still a few hitches at the final stage and Amrit Goldsmith, another team member, says good will on both sides can help overcome those hurdles.

Everyone expressed gratitude to the government for providing security since the disturbance started.

Now, the anxiety is about what will happen when the government withdraws the security forces.

Junus Indwar of the Adivasi Students’ Union insisted, “The original agreements that were made between the Naga and Adivasi occupiers of the land on a personal basis should be respected. But there should be no exaggeration on either side to prevent feelings of unfairness.”

Violence breaks out for minor reasons. But once a hurt feeling is created on either side, more serious things happen that are mutually provocative. After a while, the original grievance is totally forgotten, and new grievances accumulate on both sides that motivate the fighters.