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DIMAPUR — Breaking the silence over the impeachment of the N Kitovi Zhimomi, various GPRN/NSCN leaders maintained that the former Ato Kilonser and General Secretary of the group had been given enough chances to address the issues that led to his removal.
Addressing some sections of the media at Khehoyi designated camp on Monday, Kilonser Huvito Yepthomi said that the change of guard was made after a lot of retrospection on why several groups have broken away from the organisation and why the ‘government’ has not been making any progress.
He said that with Zhimomi being their respected leader for at least 17 years, the decision was not an easy one, but the circumstances and situation in the government compelled them to impeach him.
Recalling the ‘emergency national meeting’ held on Sunday, Yepthomi said that several senior leaders were of the opinion that the leadership should be changed and the same was supported by the members of the house, ranging from the Naga army chief to the deputy kilonsers, and tatars.
There was a unanimous decision to elect Alezo Venuh as the new Ato Kilonser and the president, Neokpao Konyak, has also approved the appointment, he said.
Venuh was given the oath of allegiance at an event held at the designated camp on Monday.
Supplementing this, Advisor to the Collective Leadership of GPRN/NSCN, C Singson said that other leaders of the organisation had approached Zhimomi on multiple occasions, urging him to take corrective measures and stabilise the government, but he ignored the concern raised by his colleagues, indicating his ‘dictatorial’ tendencies.
Further, he said that even the speaker of the National Tatar Hoho approached the former ato kilonser a few days ago but he didn’t listen.
This decision should be viewed as something that is for the betterment of the government, Singson said, maintaining that Zhimomi was given enough chances to avoid impeachment.
On whether the impeachment would have any impact on the Working Committee, Naga National Political Group (WC-NNPG), Yepthomi said that this change of guard was within the GPRN/NSCN (Unification) which is a part of the larger NNPG, and it does not have a say in matters related to the leadership of WC-NNPG.
Singson also said that seven Naga political groups (NPGs) came together to form the NNPG through the initiative of GPRN/NSCN, and by virtue of being the General Secretary of GPRN, and Ato Kilonser of NSCN, N Kitovi Zhimomi was elected as the Convenor of the WC-NNPG by the other groups.
Now, since he is no longer holding the office, he may not have the opportunity to continue as the convenor, but it is up to the seven groups to decide, he added.