GPRN/NSCN (U) remains fully intact — Ato Kilonser Alezo Venuh

• Khehoyi camp siege an ‘orchestrated’ and not genuine reconciliation effort

(L-R) C Singson, Alezo Venuh, Huvito Yepthomi, and Aheto Chophy during the press conference on Tuesday. (EM Images)

• DIMAPUR — The GPRN/NSCN (Unification) leadership has asserted that the group remains intact despite the recent seizure of its Khehoyi designated camp by ousted leader, N Kitovi Zhimomi and his supporters last month.
  
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• Following an emergency joint council meeting held on Tuesday in Dimapur, top leaders, including Ato Kilonser Alezo Venuh and Kilo Kilonser Huvito Yepthomi, reviewed the March 22 incident, describing it as an “orchestrated” move rather than a genuine reconciliation effort.
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• Alezo Venuh clarified that the group’s structure remains solid, with President Gen. (Retd.) MB Neokpao Konyak, kilonsers, army units, and regional commanders still loyal. “Barring a handful of army personnel and civil officers, the government is fully intact,” he asserted.

Also read: Kitovi orchestrated Khehoyi siege — Neokpao Konyak

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• Venuh accused Brig. Kiyeto Zhimomi, a former confidante, of collaborating with Kitovi to stage the camp takeover under the guise of reconciliation, stating that the government has “clear proof and evidence” that all this was orchestrated at Kitovi’s residence by the former.
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• He also raised concerns over the reportedly removal of weapons from the camp. They raided the armoury and the residences of senior officials, removing weapons from the camp. It is not safe to keep arms and ammunition in the public domain, he added.
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• He went on to allege that Kitovi publicly framed the incident as an attempt to unify the faction, claiming he was unaware of the forceful takeover. However, GPRN/NSCN (U) leaders rejected this explanation.
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• Kilo Kilonser Huvito Yepthomi recounted how the camp was taken over while most leaders were away after the Naga Republic Day celebrations. They entered under the pretext of reconciliation but immediately began confiscating weapons, he said, adding that if their intentions were genuine, they would have followed proper channels.
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• “Maybe those who came went against orders, we don’t know. But if it had truly been for reconciliation, these things should not have happened,” he added, referring to the seizure of arms.
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• Following the takeover, he said that leaders briefly considered confronting the faction at the camp. But with the realisation that doing so would lead to bloodshed, they asked the president to leave on medical ground and convened Tuesday’s meeting with over 300 attendees, Yepthomi said.
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• Lt. Gen. Aheto Chophy, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, went further, alleging that Kitovi’s move was motivated by vengeance following his ouster as Ato Kilonser in April 2024. He also accused Kitovi of bribing certain personnel to facilitate the takeover.
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• He claimed that about 60-70 weapons were looted from the armoury and 17 more from sentries on security duty.
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• Despite this, Alezo Venuh said that the GPRN/NSCN (U) continue to stand “for reconciliation and for the interest of the Naga future,” and that it would “go the extra mile.”
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• He also maintained that the Khehoyi camp remains rightfully under GPRN/NSCN (U) and is currently “illegally occupied.” While there are many ways and means to sort out things in order to take the camp back, we do not want to take a path that would be detrimental to peace, he added.
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• Meanwhile, Kilonser C Singson reflected on the broader implications of the takeover, highlighting past efforts to curb Naga bloodshed through the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).
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• Rejecting the notion that the camp’s capture signified a victory for Kitovi’s faction, he said, “If we regard the takers of Khehoyi as winners, I think that is ‘cheap politics.’”
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• He urged civil society and tribal organisations to play a stronger role in the reconciliation process. “Just because Kitovi took Khehoyi does not mean the end of the GPRN/NSCN. We will still function as a government.”
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• Singson went on to caution that internal power struggles would not serve the larger interest of the people. “Only when peace comes can we achieve what we want. If we continue thinking in terms of supremacy—that only ‘I’ or ‘we’ can do it—it will not help.”
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• He called on faction leaders to heed the people’s desire for peace. “The people want peace. Faction leaders should realise this and come out with a positive response… we all need to come together,” he said.
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• Addressing concerns over the ceasefire agreement, Alezo reaffirmed that the nomenclature of GPRN/NSCN (Unification) remains with their faction. “No contest on the nomenclature. It is clearly ours,” he said.
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• He also clarified that the group’s ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, signed in 2012 under Neokpao’s leadership, remains valid.
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• “The ceasefire is not attached to some camp, hill or any location. It was signed with the GPRN/NSCN (U) under the leadership of Neokpao,” he said, adding that the ceasefire is scheduled for review on April 28.
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• On the outcome of the meeting, it was informed that the house, comprising all MCL, ACL, NPAC, council of kilonsers, tatars, HoDs, Naga Army, and 22 regions and sub-regions, unanimously resolved to stand by the leadership of Neokpao Konyak and Alezo Venuh. The house also endorsed the Collective Leadership to carry forward the Naga peace process till its logical conclusion.