Contradictory reports on the development
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The late SS Khaplang’s nephew Yung Aung has taken over as the ‘acting chairman’ of the NSCN (K).
However, contradictory reports emerged with regard to the change of guard. As per a TNN report, the NSCN (K) impeached its chairman, Lt. Gen. (retired) Khango Konyak. The news published on Friday night quoted a statement reportedly issued by the NSCN (K). Konyak took over as chairman after the death of Khaplang, a Hemi Naga, in June last year.
The report quoted the NSCN (K) as stating in the statement that it was unanimously resolved to impeach Khango “to save the party from further breakdown and confusion.” It informed that Aung, 45 years old, studied in Manipur till his graduation and is known to be an expert in martial arts and polo.
It further stated that Konyak was given safe passage and that he left the NSCN (K) headquarters in Sagaing region of Myanmar along with some of his loyalists. A few top leaders with origins in Nagaland, India were believed to have gone with him, the report said.
“The NSCN(K), which is based in Myanmar, wants an agreement with the Myanmar government to cover ethnic Nagas living in India who are known as western nagas. Those in Myanmar are locally known as eastern Nagas but the outfit believe that both belong to one Naga territory despite the international border dividing them,” the report noted.
NSCN (K) has a ceasefire agreement with Myanmar since April 2012 and has refrained from clashes since 2000. Recently the Myanmerse government has made it clear that it would not allow NSCN (K) to sign the national peace agreement if does not give up its demand for separation, it added.
The NSCN (K) impeachment statement said that Khango was “found guilty of grabbing absolute control of powers and functions without collective leadership, non-distribution of powers and functions exposing a one-man-government policy, which was completely in violation of the party’s constitution and discipline.”
Meanwhile, The Naga Republic, a Nagaland based online news portal, citing “confirmed” sources stated that there was a change of guard in the top NSCN (K) leadership but there was no coup as reported by TNN. Contradicting the TNN report, the news portal quoted one source as stating that Konyak was never impeached and rather a collective decision to effect a change of guard was taken since Konyak’s was unwell for sometime.
Both the reports could not be independently confirmed.
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