Students, faculty and staff of Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) participating in the candlelight vigil service in solidarity with the Oting villagers organised by Eastern Naga Students’ Union, PCC at the Bundrock auditorium on Tuesday evening.
Dimapur, December 7 (MExN): More civil society organisations, political parties and others have expressed their anger at the killings that occurred in Mon district on December 4 and 5. They echoed the calls for proper investigation into the incident, delivery of justice to the victims, and repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the North East region.
WC, NNPGs: WC, NNPGs on Tuesday reposed their confidence in the commitment of the GOI led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah “to resolve Indo-Naga issue without further delay” and also made an earnest appeal to revoke AFSPA from Nagaland as precursor to peaceful, honourable and acceptable political solution.
The WC, NNPGs in a press release stated it is ‘extremely incongruous that the world largest democracy and an aspiring world super power continues to blemish her global reputation due to abject human rights violations principally owing to enforcement of AFSPA exclusively in the Naga inhabited areas of India and North east India.’
It said, “Since it is introduction in the year 1958 hitherto, rather than achieving its objective of quelling the rebellions, the AFSPA has paradoxically provoked more unpopular anti-India sentiments and caused proliferation of more extra-constitutional armed groups in the affected regions.”
It stated that “while the Indian Army commanders and soldiers on ground must also own the responsibilities for the gravest acts of inhumanity against the Nagas and where the 4th December 2021 Oting villagers massacre is one among many such blunder, it is in fact the GOI and her policy makers who should squarely be blamed for all the horrible fallouts of AFSPA on the peace yearning and friendly Naga people.”
“Speediest form of justice must be delivered by avoiding any pretexts of divergent agencies involvement in the investigation,” it appealed.
“The decades of military atrocities, suppressions and government sponsored/sanctioned killings has proved to be futile over and again and that Indo-Naga conflict could be resolved only through peaceful, political dialogue and mutual acceptance of each other,” it added.
It also stated that the “Indo-Naga issue is far past beyond AFSPA and the most regrettable cycles of violence over the last many decades should not be allowed to rear up its vicious head again to haunt the survivors and also to deter the posterity from stepping into the path of violence once again.”
NPF Legislature Party: NPF Legislature Party said that the “cowardly act of the Indian Army attempting to hide the dead bodies of the 6 civilians killed on December 4, 2021 near Oting Village by wrapping and loading the dead bodies into a Pick-up Truck with the intention of taking them to their base Camp is depressing and heart-wrenching. No amount of reasoning can justify such merciless killings of innocent civilians.”
On Tuesday, the party endorsed the decision of the State Cabinet to call-off the Hornbill Festival and the decision to write to Government of India for repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) by both House of the Parliament.
Meanwhile, it demanded that the Indian Army HQ should answer to the Naga people on whether Standard Operating Procedure of AFSPA was followed by the Army personnel during the said Operation including the exact origin of intelligence input(s) leading to the carnage.
The brutal killing of 14 innocent civilians is a violation of human right of the highest degree and at a time like this, all rank and file of the Indian Army should recollect how in the recent past, a good number of daring Naga Jawans lost their lives while encountering the Country’s enemies in the line of duty. The Naga martyrs were highly honoured with accolades and awards but for such acts of heroic sacrifices for the Country, the Indian Army has mercilessly killed innocent Naga civilians in return, it said.
Further, it urged upon the SIT to judiciously carry out the investigation without fear or favour and “at the earliest time possible.”
“When the Naga people is yearning for peace and settlement of the long-pending Indo-Naga Political Issue, the genocide committed by the Indian Army under Mon District has threatened the very existence of the Naga people and is most shocking,” it added.
CTSU: Chümoukedima Town Students’ Union (CTSU) said the “unprovoked firing and killing of the Naga civilians” is highly questionable and condemned” such crime by the highly acclaimed and trained Indian Para-military forces.” “The Indian Para-military forces should bear the whole responsibility for creating law and order problem and no amount of justification shall be accepted by the people,” the CTSU said, while demanding immediate revocation of AFSPA.
MIHYO: May I Help You Organisation (MIHYO) said that the “armed forces claim the killings to be of mistaken identity is utterly absurd.”“How can we even believe this narrative where a group of well-trained armed forces failed to distinguish between a hardcore armed militant and an unarmed daily wager? They said it was an act of self-defence, but from whom?” it questioned. The organisation stated that this is the time the governments, both centre and state, should show their true dedication towards the wellbeing of our people.
ZHRF: The Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) stated that the “atrocities meted out to innocent civilians, unarmed without any provocation was a gross violation of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed to its citizen and enshrined in the Constitution of India.” “The government of the day at the helm of affairs therefore need a rethinking about the Armed Forces Special Power Act. The Act rather thanalleviating the hardship of the citizen of India has brought about hardship and anguished to the general population. Thus, the Act needs a revisit,” it said.
Ex-PAN: Ex- Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland (Ex-PAN) expressed anguish at the killings in Mon and stated that “the dastardly act and unwarranted, unprovoked firing by the armed forces on hapless civilians which is not the first time in this part of the country has shocked the largest democratic country in the world.” “Such boldness shown by the Army to kill civilians with impunity under the draconian AFSPA is utterly unfortunate,” it stated and appealed to the Government of India to immediately repeal the act.
WMC: World Meitei Council (WMC) said that the “inhuman act during the festive month killing our innocent people of our region is condemned in the strongest term.” “Such an inhuman act that has increased the number of widows and orphans is permitted by AFSPA. Such law that allows the security forces to kill innocent public is not acceptable under any circumstances.” It added. The WMC called for its repeal from the North East region.
PBCA: Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) questioned “how can a group of tactically well-trained para-security personnel claim themselves that they killed civilians in self-defence when civilians have done no harm to them.” It said that AFSPA is implemented to suppress and subjugate the political right of the people and AFSPA will never solve the political problem. “This draconian law is against human rights. We trust the government of the day that justice will be delivered to the victim families within the stipulated time,” it added.
EHWF: Eastern Himalayan Women Forum (EHWF) has expressed sadness at the Mon killings and condemned the act of the security forces where they shot before identifying the occupants. “We can’t help thinking about the widows and mothers whose husbands and sons were their families’ breadwinner was taken away just by shooting of mere suspicion,” the forum stated. It further stated that the “incident proved a total failure of the Nagaland Intelligence Bureau as well as the home Ministry’s Intelligence Bureau.” The EHWF asked the Central Government and the President of India to repeal AFSPA from all North Eastern states and Kashmir and form proper Special Investigation Team (SIT) that will thoroughly probe this incident to ensure justice to the bereaved families.
ASU: The Angami Students’ Union demanded that the Government of India repeal AFSPA and called upon the Supreme Court to “immediately restore human rights of the Nagas by repealing the inhuman act.” ““We are committed to safeguard our people,” the ASU stated, and extended unflinching solidarity to the affected Naga brethren.
UK Naga Association: The UK Naga Association condemned the incident and said that the “impact of such an atrocity will change lives forever – their families and communities will suffer pain and loss for the rest of their lives.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and with those who have now a duty to ensure that such atrocities are prevented from ever happening again,” it stated.
TSUD: Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) has demanded the withdrawal of the draconian AFSPA Act 1958 from the land of Nagas. “We are pained to see so many mainstream media and politicians distorting the actual sequence of the events and trying to portray the massacre as mere self defence between the army carrying automatic rifles against the unarmed villagers,” the union stated. It said that at a time when all Nagas and Northeast region are eagerly waiting for peaceful settlement and the peace talks in process, the incident is a stark reminder of the multi-faceted policies. Further, TSUD has directed all the affiliated units to hoist black flags in their respective offices till justice is delivered. It also gave a clarion call to all the leaders, elders, CSOs and different political groups to come together to unitedly work together in ensuring justice.
IHRC Nagaland: The International Human Rights Council, (IHRC) Nagaland State Board in its condemnation said that it considers the December 4 act as nefarious and the operation itself as an “error of destruction” were the only justification given was ‘mistaken identity’.
Considering the situation and the damage caused by the Indian army, the council demanded that full accountability be taken by the army and that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up be clear and independent in their inquiry.
IHRC Nagaland asserted that AFSPA, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is the dark law of the land and “is the root cause of all evil and the armed forces have gravely committed human rights violation under the shadow of AFSPA which they are yet to be put under trial for.” It demanded the government of India to scrap the act “once and for all” if it truly believes that India is the largest democracy in the world.
CBLT: Chang Baptist Lashong Thangyen (CBLT) in its condemnation stated that it is appalling to witness the “so called protector of our land, to be the ones inflicting harm to such a great magnitude.” “Your inhumane act has left the families and the entire Naga community with inconsolable pain and despair,” CBLT condemned. It said that there should have been no room for this kind of crime in a civilized society, and as any right thinking citizen would know, the perpetrators arc hiding under the tutelage of Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA). “It is becoming unbearable for the innocent and the noble citizens of this country to undergo this nightmare of AFSPA,” it said while appealing to the Government of India to revoke AFSPA before any more innocent civilians fall victims to the highhandedness of the Armed Force.
ENPUC: Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Union Chümoukedima (ENPUC) expressed shock at the act committed by the Indian Security Force upon the unarmed innocent people. “We the ENPUC condemn the act of violence and seek justice for those who became a prey for hungry Indian Armed Force. ENPUC stands in solidarity with our Konyak brothers in this time of sorrow and pain and convey our support in this pursuit for justice this slain victims,” it said while appealing the Government of Nagaland to investigate the matter seriously and deliver justice to the grieving victim families.
KUD: Khiamniungan Union Dimapur (KUD) in its condemnation said it is disheartened to comment that the rights of the civilians are destroyed by one of the biggest democracy country and the most advanced military in the world. “The barbaric shooting and incident regretted intelligence failure or alleged mistaken identity was a careful operation planned and execution. Under the pretext of the draconian law Armed Forces Special Powers Act the peace loving citizens (Nagas) have come along histories of rape and murder, where innocent public are the victims. This Act should be repealed,” it appealed. The union also requested the investigating agency to deliver fair justice by booking the culprits and giving befitting punishment as per the court of law. “The scanty ex-gratia is not the solution or justice assured in the present situation,” it said.
NFD: Naga Forum Delhi (NFD) vehemently condemned the cold-blooded murderer of the innocent Nagas by the armed forces. The Forum urged the concerned authority to book the perpetrators at the earliest and be awarded with stringent punishment as per the law of the land.
It is a matter of great dismay that such crime against humanity has been committed by the Indian security armed forces against the Naga civilians when the Nagas are yearning for a peaceful settlement of the protracted Indo-Naga political talk, the Forum said.
Countless innocent lives have been terminated and tortured by armed security forces in the North East region under the impunity of the draconian law, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 (AFSPA). It is a blot on India's pride as the world's largest democracy. “Therefore, we urge the Government of India to revoke this brute colonial law immediately from our land,” it appealed.
THN: Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland (THN) said that the savagely act of the killers are unthinkable and unimaginable, no appropriate words are found adequate to condemn this incident. “It is our desire that the state and central government will take befitting action to those killers as per the law of the land.” It added.
