Wangmao Angh
Dimapur, September 12 (MExN): Wangmao Angh, the Chief Angh of Yenchong village in the Sagaing Division, Naga Self Administered Zone of Myanmar, passed away on September 11 after a prolonged illness.
Born in 1951, Wangmao Angh was well-known in the Eastern Konyak areas and neighbouring Naga villages for resisting the military Junta’s (Tatmadaws) forceful conversion of Nagas into Buddhism during the late 1990s, the Naga Students' Organisation spokesperson Naogang Ngansa said in a press release on Sunday. He stood strong and firm against the force of the Burmese military and no Konyak villages were converted to Buddhism, it stated.
Late Wangmao was also a member of the peace negotiating group between the government of Myanmar and the NSCN (K), which led to the signing of a regional level truce between the two in April 2012, it added.
Mourning the demise of its leader, the NSO stated that the late Angh’s past activities in Christian ministries in his native and Konyak areas and his involvement in uplifting the Naga Civil society organisations in Myanmar would be honored and remembered.
NSO sends our condolence with a heavy heart to the bereaved family and to our Konyak brethren during this time of mourning of a great Angpa, the release stated while adding that members from the NSO Konyak unit are being sent to the funeral service at Yenchong.
The Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) also mourned the demise of late Wangmao and said that the departed leader was not just an Angh but a statesman and a humanitarian in all aspects. He worked selflessly on religious, education, political and developmental for Konyak people as well as general Naga in Eastern (Myanmar) for many years till his last breath, the Union stated in a condolence message.
Stating that the Eastern Konyak people as well as Nagas of Myanmar have loss a great public leader, the union stated that late Wangmao served in various organisations and represented them in the Naga Yuya and as a Naga MLA in Myanmar government to protect the people from Myanmar Junta military regime. He was the peace maker between Myanmar Junta Military and Naga Political Groups and on several occasions, saved many innocent lives from the military activities during the ugliest situation in Eastern Naga area, the release stated.
It also said that the late Angh shared his vision with many Western and Eastern Naga political leaders during various times of conflict in Naga areas, and also saved the lives of Naga political leaders from the Junta operations. The union also stated that late Wangmao made Yenchung village the main centre for the entire Eastern Konyak people and established the Eastern Konyak Church office as a ‘gift’ to the Konyak community. He made communication possible between West and East Nagas through and put in tireless efforts to bring the communities together, the release stated.
Stating that the Konyak community and the Nagas in general would follow in his footsteps, the Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for comfort and strength.
