ASIA/INDIA - February 5, prayer and fasting to stop the war in Nagaland in northeast India

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Prayer and fasting for peace: is the initiative of Christian churches in the state of Nagaland, northeastern state of India, where a raging insurgency that in 30 years, has claimed more than 20 thousand deaths. Next Sunday, February 5, as determined by the Council of the Churches of Nagaland, believers will observe a special day of fasting and prayer to "repent, atone for their sins, ask God for the gift of peace".
In a state that is predominantly Christian, the Church invites all members and all the guerrillas to lay down arms and join the prayer "that God may hear, forgive and heal our land", says an appeal sent to Fides . The note calls for a cease-fire on behalf of fighters and government troops, calling for a political solution to the various issues affecting the people of Naga. The call comes a week after the failure of peace talks between government officials and rebel movements who, in turn, are divided and engaged in a fratricidal struggle.
Nagaland is one of the seven states of Northeast India, a very unstable area of the country, crossed by numerous conflicts. The term "Naga" denotes the group of Tibeto-Burmese tribes that inhabit the region. The armed rebellion in the state has lasted since 198: the rebels accuse the government of India to take advantage of local resources (minerals, tea, timber and oil) without giving anything back to the people and fight for independence from India. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 02/02/2012)