Key NSCN-IM leader passes away

Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, MAY 14: One of the tallest NSCN-IM leaders, AK Lungalang passed away in Dimapur on Friday evening. He was a member of Collective Leadership of the NSCN-IM till he breathed his last. AK Lungalang joined the Naga national movement (Naga National Council) in 1962.
According to reports, AK Lungalang was admitted to Eden Hospital in Dimapur for some illness sometime ago.
Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM organised a "state funeral" at Camp Hebron, off Dimapur today for Late AK Lungalang.
AK Lungalang was born in 1930 at Benreu village in Peren district of Nagaland.
He was elected as 'Tatar' (Member of Parliament of NSCN-IM) in 1994. He became 'kilonser' (cabinet minister) in 1997. AK Lungalang was then inducted into the Steering Committee of the NSCN-IM, the highest decision making body of the organisation, in the year 2000. He was finally inducted into the Collective Leadership of the organisation in 2013.
AK Lungalang had participated in almost all the peace talks held between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India, both in India and abroad. He had also widely travelled.
Meanwhile, expressing pain and sorrow on the demise of his colleague, NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said that AK Lungalang was a complete man filled with integrity, dignity and also a good-humoured person. He joined the "national service" with full commitment which he carried forward till his last moment, said Muivah in his condolence message. "He was given various key posts in the government and the party; in all of them he exhibited true leadership and statesmanship that shaped the government and the party," Muivah also said. "As a member of the Indo-Naga Political Talk team, he was instrumental in taking forward the Indo-Naga peace process to where it has reached today," Thuingaleng Muivah added.
According to the general secretary of NSCN-IM, AK Lungalang's journey in the Naga national movement is a legacy which will be an inspiration to the younger generations in all ways of life, specially the unwavering national spirit in trying times of the Naga national struggle. Muivah further said that AK Lungalang's contributions and achievements in building the Naga nation will be cherished in all days to come. "I render my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray that the Almighty God comforts them. May the good Lord grant his soul an eternal peace! Until we meet again, my compadre!", Muivah added in the moving condolence message.
Also expressing sadness on the demise of AK Lungalang, NSCN-IM chairman Q Tuccu said that the late leader was a man who showed himself as a man born for the Naga nation as he joined the bandwagon of Naga national movement from the prime of his life. "He set his footprints in national service under NNC (Naga National Council) in 1962 when he was appointed as Commissioner, Japfu State," mentioned the condolence message of Q Tuccu.
According to the NSCN-IM chairman, as a man with iron will, AK Lungalang never bogged down under any situation. "There was an occasion when he was arrested by the Gorkha Regiment on November 2, 1968. During the captivity, he fasted for 54 days and nights. Ultimately, he was unconditionally released by the Government of India," Q Tuccu added.
According to the NSCN-IM chairman, AK Lungalang was a member of the team that held parleys in Bangkok with the representatives of the Government of India in the month of July, 1997 that ended with the declaration of second Indo-Naga ceasefire on 1st August, 1997. Since then, he has been actively involved as part of the NSCN-IM negotiating team led by Chief Negotiator Th.Muivah. It was his wish to find a final and lasting Naga political solution without borders, Q Tuccu added.
The NSCN-IM chairman then said, "I am proud that Eno.Lungalang left behind his record of distinguished service that will go down into the pages of Naga history. With his demise we have lost an outstanding patriot and a son of the soil. His unwavering commitment and sacrifice towards the Naga political cause will be remembered for all time to come".