Finance Kilonser of the NSCN-K (Khango), Shellen Konyak; President of the NSCN (Akato), Akato Chophi and Vice President of the NNC-Parent Body (Royim) at the press conference in Hoito village, Niuland district on December 30. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 30
Three Naga Political Groups (NPGs) have decided to jointly pursue the Naga political issue. The three groups include the NSCN (Akato), NSCN-K (Khango) and NNC-Parent Body (Royim).
The development was announced at a press conference by Akato Chophi, President of the NSCN (Akato) following a meeting of senior leaders of the three NPGs at his residence in Hoito village on December 30. Akato was flanked by Shellen Konyak, Finance Kilonser of NSCN-K (Khango) and SS Pongkhu, Vice President of NNC-Parent Body (Royim) at the press conference.
He termed the alliance as a “joint venture” to pursue political talks with the Government of India (GoI), while having each other’s back. “One of our objectives is to start political talks with Delhi. We are of the belief that the Centre (GoI) would and should take note of our intention,” said Akato.
He said that the three NPGs will not side with the other political entities now in talks with Delhi and rather welcomed other “likeminded groups” to join them. He added that the three groups will not have a common nomenclature but will continue to use their own respective nomenclatures.
According to Akato, his group already has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NSCN-K (Khango), while the latter also has a separate MoU with the NNC-Parent Body (Royim) implying it was only natural for the three entities to come together for a cooperative endeavour.
The three groups have yet to jointly send feelers to Delhi but he said that individually they have been doing so.
He said that no MoU was signed between the three groups at Friday’s meeting and that other programmes for the future would be chalked out as they move forward.
Khango and Z Royim could not attend the meeting, which was held behind closed doors. Khango’s camp was represented by Ato Kilonser, Hokato Vusshe and Finance Kilonser, Shellen Konyak. Z Royim’s side was represented by Vice President, SS Pongkhu and General Secretary, Nupavi. The Akato camp was represented by President, Akato Chophi and General Secretary Michael Yepthomi.
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