Eric Miachieo
Kohima | May 15
Raising a common voice of outrage and indignation over the rise in crimes against women and children and continued rampant extortions in Naga society, apex Naga organizations today resolved to take up these issues on a war-footing and decided to constitute an expert committee to study cases or rape, extortion and other crimes while also strongly advocating revision of existing customary laws to properly and stringently deal with crimes against women.
The consultative meeting on rape, crime and extortion organized by the Naga Hoho at the Zonal Council Hall here also adopted a four-point resolution which, among others, endorsed the recommendations made by the Nagaland State Women Commission to form a pressure group to pressurize the judiciary and the police to strengthen the legal system besides applying pressure on the legislators to activate and exercise their political will and power to ensure speedy justice to victims of crimes against women. This pressure group would also pressurize the district administrations to close down video parlours screening pornographic material.
Other recommendations of the NSWC include providing adequate compensation to the victims; sensitization of legal rights to all levels of society; besides revision of customary laws where women would also be included in the drafting of amendments with regard to customary laws.
Many of the participants in today’s meeting had also felt that the existing customary laws were very outdated, too lenient and in favour of men besides undermining and disrespecting the rights of women. Strongly condemning the recent spate of incidents of crimes against women and children in and around the state, the meeting also agreed that there existed loopholes in both the judiciary and the police resulting in the perpetrators getting off scot-free without being tried and punished for their crimes. Many also recommended framing of a common law that would be applicable to the customary courts throughout the state.
Other recommendations put up by the participants include setting up of police women cells and counseling centres in every district, giving more power to the women commission, special compensation packages for traumatized victims, etc. Many also criticized the church for not effectively playing its role as the moral guardians of society. Root causes of the crimes against women and children were also deliberated at length.
On the issue of extortion or taxation, the meeting resolved to ask the various organizations and the government to streamline their taxation policies. Pointing out that taxation and extortion by various organizations are posing a heavy burden to the people as also to the economic health of the state, the participants suggested a thorough study on the various forms of extortion and taxation including by government agencies and politicians. As one of the participant put it: “There are three types of extortion – one with guns (underground outfits and miscreants), one with the pen (bureaucrats and government officials) and one through prayers (the church)”.
Naga Hoho President, Keviletuo Angami lamented that the urban areas have become an open ground for the five underground groups and maintained that any form of taxation should be a declared and streamlined policy. He also informed that the next such meeting would include government representatives and political parties. Today’s meeting was participated by apex Naga organizations from across the state.
