A Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MARCH 12
Former GPRN/NSCN, Gen (Rtd) Kholi Konyak, along with his men, has jumped ship to join rivals NSCN (IM) who had signed a “framework agreement” with the government of India in August last year.
The development was first reported in one of the local dailies on March 10 last. However, the next day another local newspaper quoted “highly placed sources within the GPRN/NSCN setup” denying the reported change of camp by their leader.
Since the past few weeks, news of Kholi’s “reunion” with the NSCN (IM) has been doing the rounds especially after his meeting with Th Muivah at New Delhi recently. In September last year after the NSCN (IM) agreement with New Delhi, in an interview with The Telegraph, Khole had refused to condemn the “framework agreement” – a stark contrast to the stand taken the GPRN/NSCN.
On Saturday afternoon, the news was more or less confirmed when the GPRN/NSCN – after a cabinet sitting – decided to impeach Kholi. This also assumes wider significance in the backdrop of the February 23 declaration made by five Naga political groups (including the GPRN/NSCN) in which they had asked to exclude the state of Nagaland “while creating Nagalim”, which is one of the core demands of the NSCN (IM).
I take right decision to join the only correct national line: Kholi
General Kholi said that he “realized and taken the right decision to join the only correct national line under the leadership of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th. Muivah of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim”.
“Therefore, in good faith, robust and sound mind on my own volition as a responsible leader I accept and acknowledge their leadership and completely support the present Indo-Naga talk as the only acceptable foundation for our nations survival”, Kholi added in a press communique.
Kholi also said that no one should doubt about it that he is also one of those who are looking for the future of the Nagas and that he is fully convinced that NSCN led by Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th. Muivah is the only future-oriented organization of the Nagas. “It is a fact to be acknowledged that NSCN is the authentic organization of the Naga people recognized by many countries including Government of India,” he added.
“My conscience tells me that I should not serve the people in the wrong way or die in the wrong way. I must find the way. I shall therefore continue to work for the cause of the Nagas with full conviction and total loyalty to the end. Together we shall strife and leave behind a legacy of peace and prosperity for the coming generations,” stated Kholi.
“I thank our Almighty God that in His mercy and love I am alive and safe today. I joined the Naga National cause in 1956 and have been faithful to the cause and I am still committed to contribute myself to the cause of the Naga Nation and her people”.
Kholi then appealed to all the Naga people to join the “correct national line” under the leadership of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th. Muivah of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim.
NSCN(IM) has informed that Gen. (Retd) Kholi has joined hands with Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th. Muivah of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim “in order to forge a common future for the Naga people”.
According to a statement from the NSCN(IM), in a simple prayer ceremony at “Oking” of the ‘Collective Leadership’ Gen. (Retd) Kholi along with some of his senior members and the ‘Ato Kilonser’, Th. Muivah with members of the ‘Collective Leadership’ and senior members of the outfit, committed to unite under the National Socialist Council of Nagalim and “consolidate the correct national line and acknowledge the present Indo-Naga talks as the only acceptable foundation for the survival of the Naga nation”.
