‘I appealed Th Muivah and SS Khaplang to stop massacre of Khimungans’
Dimapur, Nov 1 (MExN): Maintaining that the Shillong Accord is the reason behind today’s turmoil and bloodshed in Nagaland, General Kholi Konyak, Commander in Chief of the Naga Army, NSCN-K expressed hope that there will only be one “revolutionary government” to fight for the Naga cause. “I don’t want to dig out what was happening but log search of the causes by my armies and workers of both NSCNs, how the NSCN split into two, I am compelled to show the reason why, how, when and who contributed for unfortunate splitting of NSCN into NSCN-IM and NSCN-K. However, I hope shortly there will be only one revolutionary government to fight for Naga sovereignty which is only dream of the Nagas” Kholi wished in a statement offering ‘causes’ that led to modern day Nagaland’s present malady.
According to General Kholi the Shillong Accord was ‘first’ condemned by all Naga nationalists under the leadership of Isak Swu, Th. Muivah and SS Khaplang at Langkhieng under Thingnung region in March 1976. However, Kholi stated that he openly told the leaders he cannot condemn the accord. “I also told that not a single Konyak participated in the accord, how can I condemn it. However, I had to sign the condemnation paper only two days after their pressure on me” Kholi stated. After few months of ‘Shillong Accord condemnation meeting’ at Langkheing, the NNC made a secret plan to arrest Th. Muivah and Isak “Therefore, I appealed to NNC leaders like Late Mayanger Tater, Brig Vedai, Col Chanso, Late Venuh Foreign Ambassador, Col Vikhamo and Col Shupong not to create such situation amongst the national leaders but they replied ‘the NNC didn’t require Konyaks and the Konyak would be the loser’. I replied ‘don’t worry even if the Konyak is a loser but mind it, nothing would be achieved. I only felt pity for you’” General Kholi stated.
In August 1978 General Kholi, when he was at Chingkao forest, received a message about the arrest of Isak and Th Muivah. Kholi was assigned the duty of “Martial law Assassination Commander” but he refused. Kholi said: “Isak and Th. Muivah had been arrested without any knowledge of mine but can I carry out the martial assassination to massacre the Naga leaders; I would never let my leader die in my uncivilized soil; my only problem is what should feed you, the Nagas, in my soil. As such, the said two leaders were saved from the death jaws of NNC. But surprisingly after I saved their lives, the two leaders massacred all the NNC leaders at Hahshik during Christmas in 1979.They even arrested and took me to Brig Thongpo’s house and to Waktham village where Isaac and Th. Muivah stationed. On my reaching, Late Col Chanso said to me ‘all were finished from here on 24th December 1979. I did not reply to him instead I asked Issac and Muivah as to why did they murdered so many Nagas. Th. Muivah replied that ‘he would bite only on the neck like tiger’. Therefore I told him that his system of murdering the Nagas would never last long”. In March 1980, when the NSCN was formed, Brig Thongpo led the Naga Army and massacred Khimungan citizens, Kholi said. “I therefore appealed Th. Muivah and SS Khaplang to withdraw the said mission because this was not a good mission. But the leaders replied me that the mission would crush the Khimungan. I replied them that ‘not even a single army of Brig. Singnya was killed and the victims were of innocent publics” Kholi stated. It was also asserted Isak and Th Muivah imposed fine on Leinung publics for carrying Burmese rations.
Kholi also stated that he appealed to Isak Swu and SS Khaplang to ‘forgive Leinung and Khimungan publics’ to which the two leaders understood my point and forgave the publics of the two regions. However, Major Haw challenged the “forgiven letters of the leaders” and declared that even women and children of Leinung and Khimungan would not be forgiven. “As such Maj Haw not only murdered the said two tribes but even the Naga armies of Konyak community on the charges of late coming from their leaves and misuse of few amount ranking from Rs 100 to Rs 700. Had Maj haw and his Tangkhul armies respect the order of the leaders and obeyed the command of the chief of the Army Staff, even the chances of splitting the NSC into two would not have taken place. The Tangkhul armies, particularly Maj Haw were encouraged by Th. Muivah who should be responsible for splitting the NSCN into two” Kholi stated.
“I don’t want to dig out what was happening but log search of the causes by my armies and workers of both NSCNs, how the NSCN split into two, I am compelled to show the reason why, how, when and who contributed for unfortunate splitting of NSCN into NSCN-IM and NSCN-K. However, I hope shortly there will be only one revolutionary government to fight for Naga sovereignty which is only dream of the Nagas” Kholi wished.
