ENSF President Chingmak Chang, ‘March Against AFSPA’ coordinator Kevitho Kera and others address a press conference after the culmination of the Day-I march on January 10 in Piphema. (Morung Photo)
ENSF on its charter of demands, AFSPA
Morung Express News
Piphema | January 10
There are different layers of justice, some needing immediate delivery while waiting for others, the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) said today.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the ‘March Against AFSPA’ on January 10 in Piphema, the ENSF reiterated its charter of demands regarding the Oting Massacre, as well as questioned the Central and State Governments.
ENSF President Chingmak Chang listed out the charter of demands submitted to the Government of India, including booking of all officers and jawans involved in the incident; and adequate compensation of Rs 1 crore for those killed as well as Rs 50 lakh each for those injured. Talking about those injured, Chingmak noted that they were once assets to their family, but have now been rendered a liability.
There are different layers of justice regarding Oting and AFSPA is one of them. Some can be delivered without an SIT, by just having one meeting, he underscored. To this end, he questioned the Centre and State Government on their failure to deliver some layers of ‘deliverable justice’ by now.
Among others, he informed that while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had promised one job to the victims’ family during the Oting funeral speech on December 6, it is yet to be fulfilled. “It is over one month now, and there is no news about that. The promise must be delivered,” he asserted.
While during the meeting between the Union Home Minister and the Nagaland Government led by the CM on December 23, it was ‘seen and heard’ in media that those involved in the incident would be suspended, till now there is no such order, he pointed out. “This is the right time the GoI should give in ‘black and white’ and the public of Nagaland should know about it,” he added.
Regarding the SIT constituted by the GoN, the ENSF President noted that its report when submitted, should be in the public domain.
He further informed that non-cooperation to the military and non participation in national events would continue in Eastern Nagaland. “Until and unless justice is delivered to us, we will continue to agitate and protest,” he said.
The ENSF meanwhile contended that the Union Home Minister was ‘misled’ by the security forces on the incident during his statement in Parliament.
ENSF Advisor, Shasha L Phom termed it sad that the statement made by the Union Home Minister was reportedly written by the army. “If this is so, how secure is our country? This is a big question,” he said.
Regarding the SIT report, the ENSF informed that it agreed to give more time for the investigation. “Sometimes we have to give some time to complete a case. But it has to be done at the earliest. Delaying tactics will not work,” Honang Wangsu, another ENSF Advisor maintained.
Supplementing to that, ENSF Spokesperson Manno Konyak expressed belief that the wheels of justice have already been set in motion.
“The SIT has been set up, discussions are going on. One thing about the current incident is that, for the first time there is a huge positive move from GoI by allowing the military jawans to be questioned by SIT, which has never been done unless before a military court,” she said.
A huge onus lies on the State Government to take extra measures to deliver justice, she added.
The spokesperson reiterated that any kind of comment, apology and clarification should come in black and white. “They owe it to the victims and civil society organizations to ensure what they promised is seen in black and white,” she said.
Meanwhile talking about the first day of the ‘March Against AFSPA,’ one of the organizers Kevitho Kera said that there was overwhelming response, though the number was limited due to the strict SOPs. “What surprised us was the amount of support and solidarity we received along the way by various village organizations and unions of different communities,” he said.
More people were willing to turn up, but we have to adjust with the ‘strict’ SOP’ as demanded by the law. The same momentum will continue on the second day as more people from different locations would be joining along the way including a civic reception in Kohima, he informed.
Regarding AFSPA, Kera noted India is a country built on such sound principle, including a robust constitution, but AFSPA is a mockery to the foundation on which India is built. “What happened in Oting is a shame,” he said.
He further informed that the key demands of the memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland would include justice for Oitng, persecution of perpetrators under relevant CRPC, adequate compensation to victims including those injured and complete repeal of AFSPA from Nagaland.
On being asked whether Nagaland is disturbed, he retorted that “presence of military and AFSPA is disturbing.”
“A child was born in 1958, now it is 2022. We cannot allow the same dress to be worn all through the child’s life. The Government should think about it,” ENSF Advisor Wangsu chipped in.
