Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 13
The claims and counter claims over convenorship of the WC, NNPGs continued. On the heels of N Kitovi Zhimomi accusing the one led by General (retired) MB Neokpao Konyak as an illegitimate entity, the latter countered with a statement on February 13. According to the statement, Zhimomi is misleading Nagas with “fabricated lies."
Contrary to claims, it said that sincere efforts were taken to accommodate Zhimomi in the WC, NNPGs since his “impeachment” as Ato Kilonser of GPRN/NSCN (Unification) in April 2024. “Despite his impeachment from the Ato Kilonser of GPRN/NSCN (U) by an overwhelming 99% of the workers and consequent recall from the WC by his own organization, the leaders of the WC made sincere efforts for the last nine months to accommodate him with an honorable position in the WC,” the statement claimed. However, it said Zhimomi resorted to levelling “unfounded and malignant” allegations. It accused Zhimomi of victimising genuine Naga patriots in the GPRN/NSCN (U) and also of misusing the WC, NNPGs banner for personal gains. It said, “N Kitovi must understand that the Agreed Position or the Naga political solution does not belong to him personally.”
It added that the Agreed Position represents “the political will of the Naga people and that Zhimomi should have allowed reason to prevail instead of trying to assume “hereditary Chieftainship” over the Naga issue. It expressed regret that Zhimomi was trying to find fault in the WC leaders’ commitment to defend Naga ancestral territories when he himself was a party to the Agreed Position.
Stating that the WC, NNPGs is extricating itself from a crisis the root cause of which was its former Convenor, it said that Zhimomi was expected to display maturity. The WC, NNPGs also released what it said were copies of documents related to “official proceedings of the WC vis-a-vis N Kitovi Zhimomi's removal from the position of Convenor.”
It cited an order, dated April 23, 2024, issued by the President of GPRN/NSCN (U), Neokpao withdrawing endorsement of Zhimomi as GPRN/NSCN representative to WC, NNPGs. On August 17, 2024, it said Zhimomi had assigned his Vice President W Chennyeim Konyak as GPRN/NSCN representative to the WC, NNPGs implying his endorsement of the WC, NNPGs.
Further, it said that three WC, NNPGs co-convenors, who are today backing Zhimomi’s claims, have endorsed removal of Zhimomi as Convenor of WC, NNPGs, all along. The three— Ato Kilonser of the NPGN/NNC, Shitoho Chophi; President of the NNC/GDRN, Kiumukam Yimkhiung; and Ato Kilonser of the UNPG/NNC (Parent Body) Toshi Walling were signatories to the May 28, 2024 resolution of the WC, NNPGs, designating the position of the WC “in a state of moratorium.” This was further reaffirmed at a subsequent meeting of the WC affiliates, on July 31, 2024, which was also attended and endorsed by the said three leaders, it added.
It claimed that Chophi, Walling and Kiumukam were party to a WC meeting held on September 20, 2024, in which the house resolved to request Zhimomi to not oppose “selection/election” of a new convenor.
