Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes. The act gives the armed forces the power to search, raid and arrest without the mandatory warrant. The armed forces can also exercise the act even to the point of causing death. This act is oppressive and leaves the people open to atrocities. The act does not belong to civilized and democratic nations and should be totally scrapped. This act robs the people of their fundamental and basic human rights. Having the tag of DAA will hinder the much talked about boosting of the tourism industry, economic growth by cross border trades with neighbouring countries and foreign investments in Nagaland. Both the state and the central government should talk and act on bringing about peace, security and development without the use of draconian acts that put us in fear and uncertainty. I don't relish the thought of being treated like a terrorist by the security forces simply because they got suspicious.
• Yes. DAA is a tool only for divide and rule policy. We Naga youths totally oppose DAA as well as Armed Forces (special powers) Act 1958
• DAA or AFSPA should not be extended or re-enforced but totally abolished in India. However, security is of paramount requisite for peace and development. So Nagaland government must invest more in good local policing to protect business/commercial activities and wellbeing of the citizens.
• Yes. Yes, absolutely. There is no reason at all to extend the Disturbed Areas Act. It does nothing to actually make the situation better. It only creates fear psychosis in the minds of the public and this leads to suspicion and distrust.
• Yes. But, if suppose there is a Man-eater(Tiger) in that particular area or jungle, can you go in or hunt without weapons?
• Trying to hunt the tiger down and jeopardizing and killing the other birds, reptiles, animals is completely illogical. Besides who is the man eater? We are the man eater... They say the world suffers not because of the evil people but because of the silent of the good people (we). Arms never led to peaceful solution as history can be our biggest witness, I hope the Indian govt politics of playing a buffer war situation is uncalled for.
• Yes, I support the NTC’s appeal. If they Disturbed Areas Act is extended beyond 30 June, the NTC along with the other NGOs should organize peaceful procession and submit representation to the Governor of Nagaland. In case, the representation is not accepted or withdrawn within certain period of time than there should be total bandh in the state for a day or week or month or even year until the Act is withdrawn.
• Yes. When Indian government is supposed to be in ceasefire with most of the Naga political groups, the issue of DAA and AFSPA should not arise. It should be completely withdrawn.
• Yes we are no more disturbed area
• Yes, India should prove they are a democratic country and remove the Disturbed Areas Act. How come even during a ceasefire they are forcefully imposing this Act.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• I say NO because in reality it does not matter. As long as the Indian security forces are suspicious of ever single Naga, it does not really matter if there is Disturbed Areas Act or not. The outlook and the policy of the Indian government needs to change first.
• India will never remove this Act. Their attitude to the Naga issue is not positive. They want to suppress the Nagas till we surrender our rights. This Act reminds us that India will never treat us like human beings. So why should we ask them to lift the DAA, they are only doing their job to violate our rights.
• NO. Naga area will always remained disturb, till the mindsets changed. Nagas must find the way to strengthen the economy. Only the, the onset of peace will begin.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Our DAN oppositionless state government is so busy with fighting among themselves that they are not caring about the public. The TR Zeliang Oppositionless government should prove their worth and ask for immediate withdrawal of the Disturbed Areas Act from Nagaland. They take so much pride in being an oppositionless government but when it comes to work, there is very little that they can be proud of. The extension of DAA can be stopped by the state government.
• Besides the lackadaisical attitude of the concern state govts in working out a progressive solution adds to the misery... So much for politics and power.
• If NTC and other Naga NGOs really want the DAA to be lifted from our state, they should be demanding the State government to lift it. The DAA is only imposed on the recommendations of the State Government. Appealing to the Governor makes no sense in this case. State government should be told to resign if they cannot lift the DAA.
