Kohima, July 2 (MExN): The Naga Hoho today condemned the Government of India for the extension of Disturbed Area on “condition and promulgation of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in Nagaland by another six months with effect from June 30.
“The Act empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone on mere suspicion without any prior notice,” a statement from Naga Hoho said.
It further highlighted the content of the notification for the extension which stated that “the Central Government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary,”
“It is unfortunate that the Government of India fails to take into account the ground reality but rather choose to dehumanize the Naga people by using the most inhuman Act,” the Naga Hoho added.
Terming the law as “Draconian,” it asserted that the purpose of the law was not to “maintain law and order in the region but to act and suppress the innocent people.”
“When the state has been declared peaceful, what is the necessity to impose this most unwanted law in the region?” it asked rhetorically, while stating that the “imposition has only proved the iron hand of India and militarization against the Naga people.”
Further noting that the “inhuman law” has lost its relevance in a civilised society, the Naga Hoho stated that the law must be repealed if the GoI “truly honours the Peace Process and a peaceful solution to the long Indo Naga Political Talks.”
