AYO reiterates non-cooperation with NSCN (K) Khango

Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) Thursday reaffirmed its non-cooperation stance against NSCN (K) Khango over group’s failure to fulfil a key point in an earlier agreement.
Addressing a press conference at its office here, AYO president Kesosul Christopher Ltu highlighted the sequence of events leading to the decision and the current status of the dispute.
Ltu disclosed that the matter began on July 20, 2024, when a person identifying himself as “Max,” claiming to represent the finance control committee of NSCN (K) Khango, called an Angami contractor and issued an extortion demand. The contractor was allegedly given 15 days to comply, failing which he would face capital punishment.
Following the threat, he said AYO initiated a series of engagements with NSCN (K) Khango.
On July 22, Ltu said AYO officials met with group’s Angami region chairman to discuss the issue. According to Ltu, NSCN (K) Khango regional leadership initially denied knowledge of anyone named “Max” or the existence of a finance controller committee.
During subsequent meetings with higher-ranking NSCN (K) Khango leaders including kilo kilonser, chaplee kilonser, and western command, Ltu said they also denied existence of “Max” or extortion directive. However, on July 24, he said Angami region chairman informed AYO via phone that “Max” had in fact been appointed by higher authorities of NSCN (K) Khango, possibly by president Khango Konyak or general secretary Hokato Vusshe.
In response, Ltu said AYO offered to resolve the matter, provided that group’s finance controller or its representative addressed the issue directly. Later that evening, he said group’s kilo kilonser expressed willingness to settle the matter under his authority. AYO officials agreed to meet on July 25 in Kohima, at a venue and time to be decided by NSCN (K) Khango.
However, no response was received on July 25 or 26, prompting AYO to proceed with a presidential meeting on July 27 at APO Hall.
At that meeting, attended by 270 youth leaders from various villages, he said three resolutions were adopted: declaration of non-cooperation with NSCN (K) Khango; a call for all Angami national workers to withdraw from the group and reaffirmation of the 1993 Angami Public Organisation (APO) resolution advocating “One Government, One Tax.”
As a follow-up, Ltu said AYO organized a mass public rally on August 6, 2024 to protest against “unabated taxation, harassment, intimidation, and threats.”
Despite growing public pressure, Ltu said no formal response was received from NSCN (K) Khango. However, the Ceasefire Monitoring Board later initiated mediation leading to a meeting on August 20 at Hotel Japfü, facilitated by the ceasefire board and attended by representatives of both AYO and NSCN (K) Khango.
Ltu said that during the meeting, both parties agreed to a four-point resolution: NSCN (K) Khango would unconditionally withdraw the capital punishment threat issued to the contractor; the group would retract its directive asking Angami contractors to halt activities and demobilize resources from other districts; the identity of “Max Naga” would be disclosed to the public and appropriate disciplinary action would be taken within 15 days and NSCN (K) Khango expressed regret over the incident, while AYO reiterated the 1993 APO resolution.
According to Ltu, while three points of the resolution have been fulfilled, the third — the identification and action against Max — remained unaddressed, despite more than 10 months having passed.
Further, he informed that 18 Angami national workers formerly associated with NSCN (K) Khango have stepped down from their posts.
He added that this collective decision was made after realizing the group’s leadership was unwilling to uphold the terms of the agreement with AYO.
AYO president affirmed that with no Angami members currently in NSCN (K) Khango, the organization’s non-cooperation policy remained in effect. He cautioned the faction against seeking financial contributions within Angami jurisdiction and stressed that such actions would be deemed unacceptable.
“This entire episode is deeply unfortunate. It has caused not only disruption but also disunity within our community,” Ltu said. He expressed regret over the developments but noted that the stance taken by AYO was necessitated by the circumstances.
Asked about the current status of the contractor who received the threat, Ltu confirmed that there had been no further intimidation.
Responding to a query on why the group had not disclosed the identity of “Max Naga”, AYO said it was, “for reasons best known to the higher authorities of the group,” adding that revelation would have brought the whole issue to a closure.
On the issue of those national workers who had stepped down from the group, Ltu said regarding that matter, it is their personal decision to join the Naga movement that since there were more than 27 groups now there shouldn’t be any dearth in which group they would choose.
On the ranks of those national workers stepping down from NSCN K Khango, Ltu said they have been informed that there was one who was deputy Kilonser and was also the Angami Region chairman.