‘March Against AFSPA’ sends clear message

Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 11

The two-day long ‘March Against AFSPA’ from Dimapur to Kohima ended today with the submission of a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, through the Governor of Nagaland at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.

Carrying placards with slogans like ‘India show your sincerity to peace,’ ‘Enough is enough! Repeal AFSPA,’ ‘No justice no peace!’ etc, the participants entered Kohima today at around 1:00 pm, after a two-day walk covering over 70 kms.

The memorandum requested the urgent action of the Prime Minister on the Armed Forces Special Powers (AFSPA) and the brutality and injustice that have accompanied its operation in “our homeland for the last 63 years.” 

“Everybody knows what happened last month in Oting, Mon, was not an isolated incident. Among other abominable things, AFSPA has repeatedly deprived innocent civilians of their right to live, which contradicts the very concept of human rights and the reason for governments to exist in the first place,” the memorandum stated.

It also appealed the PM to take cognizance of the serious human rights crime committed by Indian armed forces in the Oting massacre, by bringing justice to the victims, their families, and the injured. 

The perpetrators must be brought under civil court for criminal prosecution, and immediate and adequate compensation must be given to the families of the victims and to the injured, it stated.

It further urged the Prime Minister to repeal AFSPA, 1958, in toto from the Naga homeland and the North East.

It also requested the Prime Minister to take cognizance of past atrocities and excesses committed by the Indian military and “help initiate the process of justice and of righting past wrongs by bringing the perpetrators under civil court for criminal procedures.”

The memo further called for recognizing the State Government's role of handling law and order of the state, and make provisions that “henceforth AFSPA 1958 will not be enforced in Nagaland.”

The memorandum was jointly submitted by Global Naga Forum, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Mother's Association, Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Dimapur and Konyak Union Dimapur.

Copy of the memorandum was also addressed to Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home; Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Defense; and JP Nadda, President BJP.

‘A movement of the Naga people’

Earlier, addressing a brief programme at Raj Bhavan area in Kohima, Chuba Ozukum, Convenor Global Naga Forum (GNF) acknowledged all those who successfully completed the walkathon from Dimapur to Kohima.

“This, as a movement is led by the Naga public not by any organization; this is the movement of the Naga people,” Ozukum said.

“You have every right to say that you have fought the good fight and you fought the best fight for the entire Naga people,” he stated addressing each and every participant.

Commenting on the walkathon, Kevitho Kera, the Convenor of the walkathon noted that the response was overwhelming. “We want to thank everyone who could not make it also, for they were with us in spirit,” he said.

Rosemary Dzüvichü, Advisor NMA said, “We are all here to protest and to raise our voice against the killing of our sons in Oting, for the death of so many over the decades, countless. And we as mothers, we grieve, we share your sorrow.”

She expressed happiness that the youth are leading the movement adding, “As mothers, we are happy to be a part of this change in Naga society.” Regarding the march and demand for justice, she pondered whether the Raj Bhavan, GoI and GoN are listening.

She also lauded the solidarity shown by various villages and organizations along the way, particularly the Piphema community where the marchers halted for a night. “We hope this is going to be a beginning for the Naga people where we are able to raise our voice, to question and to ask for our rights,” she said.

She further asserted that the AFSPA is an inhuman law which violates every universal right.

“It is not a question of us being militant, it is not a question of us being political activist. It is a question of the Government of India looking at us as ‘the other’. We still have this colonial attitude being shown to us,” she said.

Also speaking on the occasion, A Mosa Konyak, President, Konyak Union Dimapur asserted that though “we have completed our march today, our battle has only just begun.”

However, he pointed out that it is not an “easy task,” while adding, “We need to be patient and at the same time, pressurize the government till our demand is met.”

“We all have sacrificed our time and energy today. Therefore, let us all ensure that our sacrifice is not in vain,” he said and further urged for standing and fighting till all demands are “met and justice delivered.”

“Today’s march is a start; let’s continue to march together till the end,” reiterated T Sepipa Sangtam, Vice President Eastern Nagaland People’s Union, Dimapur.

“We believe AFSPA will be repealed. The State Government has already passed a resolution in the Assembly to demand the repeal of AFSPA and it will be good if the Central government revokes the Act,” he added.

The brief programme was chaired by NSF President Kegwayhun Tep.

It was further informed that the Commissioner and Secretary to Governor had given assurance that the memorandum submitted to the Governor, would be forwarded to the intended individuals within 30 minutes.