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Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 8 (EMN): Ato Kilonser (Col. Retd), Isak Sumi, on Sunday, said the recent conflict with the Khango-led NSCN/GPRN (K) group has challenged his credibility and integrity; and a shadow has been cast on his character.
However, he extended an olive branch to Khango Konyak and made an appeal to him that despite all his weaknesses, he was ready to make an apology and reconcile with each other.
He also mentioned that Co-convener of WC -NNPG, N Kitovi Zhimomi, had appealed to Khango Konyak to revoke his order and they waited three days but there was ‘no positive response’.
Therefore, their government with all the branches, which includes civil wings, political wings, secretariat staff, regional authorities and almost 90% of the grassroots level workers led by the home kilonser, tatar hoho, parliament hoho speaker, chief secretary, ceasefire supervisor, and senior army commander, conveyed an emergency meeting, and adopted a resolution to impeach Khango Konyak.
Their incumbent vice president, Luyanba Yimkhiung, was appointed as acting president of NSCN / GPRN (K).
Sumi said he would continue to pursue the Naga political solution under the WC-NNPG’s banner and would also remain the legitimate representative of NSCN / GPRN as the co-convener of the WC-NNPG. The incumbent leadership and the government would continue to uphold the official ceasefire with the government of India and its paraphernalias, he said.
Isak also informed that the WC-NNPG during an emergency meeting took the resolution that even if a single person remained with Sumi, they would not desert him, and if thousands returned to the former president, they would not accept him.
When asked about reconciling with the Khango Konyak, Sumi said he does not harbor any ill feelings towards Konyak and was still willing for reconciliation. However, since their government had already adopted the impeachment resolution, he has to convince their cabinet ministers, council of kilonsers and the entire house to revoke the decision; and if Khango Konyak is willing, he is ‘always ready’.
He also mentioned that the government of India is taking stock of the entire situation, adding that they were not trying to form a new government. Regarding the Konyak region authority, he stated that they were given intimated about the development through phone.
While interacting with journalists at his private residence in Toluvi village, Sumi said he was grateful to some of the accusers for ‘exposing certain uncomfortable personnel issues’ in the media.
Speaking about the allegations made against him, Sumi said he had realised that in order to represent the Nagas and be true to the calling ‘Nagaland for Christ’, a person who has a dark side should not be concealed and not lead the Nagas.
He, therefore, said he was making himself ‘clear before God and Nagas’ for them to make their own judgment.
Isak Sumi mentioned that in 2015, NSCN/GPRN led Khango Konyak abrogated the ceasefire with the government of India and crossed over to the Naga-Myanmar area and was stationed there for at least three to four years, located close to the Golden Triangle.
‘Even in Naga areas now, opium cultivation is a source of income and opium itself is a currency due to the lack of economic development in the area,’ he said.
He added that during his graduation and post graduation day, he had already been a social drinker and after he joined the Naga struggle, the temptation was “too strong.” Moreover, due to lack of amenities or medical facilities, he became addicted to opium and gradually progressed to heroin for at least two to three years.
Due to his addiction, he was not in a position to cross over to the Indian side and therefore called his wife over to bring the medications for his recovery.
After he was finally able to give up heroin, he crossed over to the Indian side but since the recovery is a long process, gradually he started drinking again and for at least a year, he was heavily entangled in drinking, he shared.
However, he realised that in order to bring changes, he should change himself first. Moreover, being a representative of the Nagas in the negotiation with the government of India, he reevaluated himself and set an example for his comrades and others to follow.
Therefore, he finally gave up all the substance abuse and has remained sober for the last two years, he added.
‘The evil forces will do everything in their power to smear the banner Nagaland for Christ and since they were not strong enough to resist the evil forces, especially the national workers who were supposed to be the examples of the teachings of Jesus Christ; they have become the most notorious characters including him,’ he said. ‘And with evil forces actively conniving to destroy the commitment, the Nagas have declared division and killing; it started since the unfortunate 1975 Shillong accord and now the splits, the divisions, and the infightings have become the order of the day,’ he said.