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A file photo of Khole Konyak. (Source: MIP, NSCN-IM)[/caption]
Dimapur, Dec. 13 (EMN): The Naga Council Dimapur has announced a two-hour shutdown of Dimapur on Thursday—from 10 am till 12 noon, for the duration of the scheduled “condolence service programme” in honour of Gen. (retired) Khole Konyak.
In a statement issued on Thursday, it informed all the council’s members, DUCCF, GB union sadar, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, tribal presidents to “lead at least 50 members from each tribe in their respective tribal attire” to the public reception at Agri Expo site, 4th Mile in Dimapur at 11 am on Dec. 14 to pay respect and homage to the departed soul of Konyak.
Rio grieves Khole’s demise
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday expressed grief at the death of the vice president of NSCN (IM), Gen. (Retd) Khole Konyak, who passed away on Dec. 12 in New Delhi.
In a condolence message, the chief minister said that the organisation in particular and the Nagas have lost a great leader whose absence will not be easy to fill. “Late Gen. Khole was born in 1928 at Wangshu village under Mon district. He joined the Naga movement in April 1956 and sacrificed his entire life for the Naga political movement till his last breath.
“His life of dedicated service towards the Naga cause and aspirations is a rare quality which will be difficult to match. He was a leader of stature and his contributions towards the Naga cause will be remembered for generations to come. His support towards the ongoing peace talks was testimony of his leadership and his belief that Nagas desire to live in peace for a better and brighter future,” the message read.
Rio prayed for solace and strength to the bereaved relatives in their hour of grief.
NSCN (IM) mourns death of ‘national hero’
The government of the people’s republic of Nagalim (GPRN) expressed its deepest pain at the demise of Konyak, the Vice-President of the GPRN, on Dec. 12.
“He was from Wangshu village in Konyak Region of the beautiful Nagalim. He was born on Feb. 3, 1928 and joined the National Service in April, 1956. He was the commander-in-chief of the Naga Army from 1981 till May 2011, and later became the President of the NSCN (Unification) in June 2011. He left the NSCN (U) and joined the mainstream in March 2016 and was elected as the vice-president on May 17, 2016.
“Having served as the vice-president for two years and a half and having traversed for more than sixty two (62) years to liberate the Nagas from the yoke of the occupational forces, his 62 years contained all the extremities a national hero could ever imagine and carry, and bore the burdens willingly to liberate his proud Naga people who never give up their human dignity and freedom from suppression come what may,” read a condolence message from the group on Thursday.
The outfit described its departed leader as a humble man who stood his ground to the last. “His demise is a great loss not only for the GPRN but for the entire Nagas and the revolutionary fraternity of the North East region and other parts of the world. The GPRN regrets that the late general had to pass away when the Nagas are about to reap the harvest which he and his countrymen had sown together.
“The GPRN is grieved by the loss of such a precious soul of Nagalim who gave his best for the Nation. (L) Gen. (Retd.) Kholi Konyak will forever live a perfect example of dedication and sacrifice for the generations to come and to be emulated. The GPRN conveys the most heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families, comrades and well-wishers of the vice-president who are left behind. The Nation proudly salutes one of its bravest sons and prays to the almighty god to give the noble soul of the Naga revolutionary leader an eternal peace and rest,” it stated.
