DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 3 (MExN): Isak Chishi Swu, president ‘Yaruiwo’ of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim has mourned the death of Lt. Col (Retd) Kaphungwon Hrangbung, Kilonser [minister] describing her as a woman of bravery, efficiency and honesty.
“As a ladies army commander, she served the Naga army faithfully,” Swu today said in a message and recalled Kaphungwon joining the movement in 1981and how she led the ladies army as commander from 1999 till her retirement in 2003. He said the commander served the Nagas in “different battlefields with bravery”.
Condolences have also come in from Rh Raising, Kilo Kilonser (Home Minister), Lt. Gen. Rtd. VS Atem (VC), Convenor, Steering Committee and the Khurmi region. “Traditionalists say customs forbids womenfolk to go to war. Revolutionaries say it is not gender but the spirit that matters,” Raising said adding she was one of the revolutionaries to be adored.
She had ‘live-live or die-die’ spirit: Atem
He said unlike Kaphungwon, some Naga national workers begin with nationalism but ended with betrayal, surrender and treason.
Lt. Gen Atem recalled how her father, though widowed very early, gave his service to the Naga nation under the leadership of R Suisa. He said Kaphungwon’s growth under the wings of her father during the most difficult days of 1960s and 1970s led her to enroll in the movement and became among the first women in 1981 from her tribe.
Atem said the late army commander faced great hardships while in ‘Eastern Nagalim’ including being bed ridden with malaria, dysentery and experiencing torture, harassments, malnutrition at the hands of “her own Naga brothers”. Atem said her “live-live or die-die” spirit even won the hearts of many Indian soldiers who captured and manhandled her.
Meanwhile, the Khurmi Region of the NSCN/GPRN joining those who condoled her husband and her family members, described her as ‘patriotic leader’. Lt. Col (Retd) Kaphungwon Hrangbung was Kilonser without portfolio while she died and earlier held positions including Dy Kilonser in the Ministry of Keya, Tatar in 2004, Cabinet Kilonser and as chairperson of the NSWON. Sources said her body is being kept at Tahamzam (formerly Senapati) district in a village called Taphou Pudunamei and the burial is to take place tomorrow.
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