(From left) General (retired) MB Neokpao Konyak, Y Wangting Naga, Isak Sumi, P Tikhak and Alezo Venuh, who is the Ato Kilonser of the GPRN/NSCN (U), at the press conference in Dimapur on February 8. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 8
The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) led by General (retired) MB Neokpao Konyak reasserted its claim as the legitimate entity that signed the Agreed Position with the Government of India.
On February 8, the collective of Naga Political Groups (NPGs) formalised the instatement of Neokpao as the Convener of the WC at a programme in Dimapur. Col (retired) Isak Sumi and P Tikhak are the Working Convenors alongside Neokpao.
Neokpao is the President of the GPRN/NSCN (U), which he leads alongwith Alezo Venuh as the Ato Kilonser. Sumi leads a breakaway group of the NSCN-K as the Ato Kilonser, while Tikhak is the Ato Kilonser of the NSCN (R)
The event was backdropped by the emergence of a new WC, NNPGs led by N Kitovi Zhimomi as the Convenor.
Neokpao, in his address, pledged to continue carrying forward a Naga political movement beleaguered by multiple splintering. He said it was embarrassing to admit, but added, “I can proudly say that I have not compromised on my principles and my Naga national spirit.”
According to him, the players in the Naga movement, at present, are jostling for the prize before the goal has been reached.
Nevertheless, he said that he remains spirited and positive. “Till we reach our stated goal, we shall go on,” he said.
Tikhak was optimistic that the Nagas will eventually be able to overcome the shortcomings. “We are in a crossroads but we must know that we alone can rescue ourselves,” he said, while stressing on retrospection on where things have gone wrong.
Isak Sumi lamented that there has been no clarity even as the Naga struggle continues for over 70 years.
While setbacks and political infighting are concerning, Nagas must courageously reaffirm their shared objective. He said that the Naga issue demands engagement from all, not just political groups, despite past disappointments, while adding that it was time the Naga people start exposing what he termed as “the lies and deception.”
Only one NNPGs
The programme was followed by a press conference where they addressed the question of legitimacy of the WC, NNPGs.
The NSCN (R) President, Y Wangtin Naga maintained that there is only one WC, NNPGs, which signed the Agreed Position with the Government of India. According to him, a new Convenor was appointed based on consensus following the “impeachment” of Kitovi Zhimomi as the Ato Kilonser of the GPRN/NSCN.
He said that there was no malice involved in the removal of Zhimomi and claimed that they even offered to him the role of Advisor to the WC, NNPGs, which was rejected. Despite whatever may have transpired, he said that they still have high regards for Zhimomi. Naga said, “NNPGs means all the Nagas, including Kitovi. We cannot exclude him, he’s a leader.”
According to Isak Sumi, the question of Convenor was immaterial as all the Naga Political Groups and leaders, who have been engaged in the peace process since inception, are all equal stakeholders. “He is one of the main leaders who have been navigating the process all this while… Minor differences will be there, but when it comes to the Naga issue, we all have one clear objective,” he said.
The rallying point, he asserted, is the Agreed Position to which they have all committed and looking forward to working together as earlier.
Border fencing
According to Isak Sumi, the issue of fencing the Indo-Myanmar border will not arise once the Agreed Position is implemented. While stating that it is featured in the Agreed Position already, he added that it was agreed in principle to extent the Free Movement Regime to 32 km from the existing 16 km.
A Neokpao said, “We will never allow the fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border in Naga areas.” The arbitrary international boundary has already separated many families, he added.
