Seeks justice for Wuzu firing incident, demands withdrawal of DAA and AFSPA
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 2 (MExN): A delegation of Naga civil society organizations, comprising of Naga Hoho, Naga Mother’s Association, Naga Students Federation and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights met Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh; Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks, RN Ravi; Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and Ato Kilonser of the NSCN (IM), Th Muivah in New Delhi.
The delegation brought to attention the Wuzu firing incident of July 16, 2015 and sought justice from the Government of India.
A joint statement from the four organizations informed that the delegation also asked for the withdrawal of the Disturb Area Act viz-a-viz the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act; along with an early resolution of the Naga political issue.
The statement further informed that the central leaders “have in principle agreed that AFSPA has not been the best alternative to solving problems and that the Government of India will soon be holding its periodical review meeting, during which the demands of the Naga Civil Society Organization delegation will be discussed for consideration.”
Regarding the Naga Peace talks, the delegation informed that for the Government of India, “the Naga issue now stands as the ‘top priority’ although India is faced with many other such problems, and that they are committed to settling the Naga problem at the earliest possible time.”
In their meeting with NSCN (IM) General Secretary, Th Muivah, the delegation apprised him of their discussion with the Government of India and also sought updates and status of the political negotiations.
“And we are also glad to hear that the Government of India has now agreed that the integration of Naga areas is a “legitimate right” of the Nagas,” the joint statement added.
The Naga civil society organizations meanwhile stated that “our many differences have multiplied over the years, and which has all the potentials of going from bad to worse if the present trend of contradictions continues unchecked.”
“Therefore, the only way for the Nagas to be able to determine for ourselves how to live our own way of life and also for the sake of future generations, and where draconian laws such as the AFSPA and others that are alien to our ways of life will become irrelevant, is to secure an acceptable and amicable political settlement with the Government of India,” they added.
.JPG)
