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Dimapur, December 5 (MExN): Condemning the Decemeber 4 Oting incident, several student bodies and youth organizations have demanded the Government of India to repeal the AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act. They also condemned the incident citing it as total violation of human rights.
ENSF: Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) expressed outrage that the “Indian Army continues to take countless innocent lives in fake encounters in the name of autocratic law, such as draconian law of AFSPA 1958 and Disturbed Area Act which is totally in violation to the human rights and crime against humanity.” It demanded the Indian Government to repeal the AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act, which has become inappropriate as far as the peaceful coexistence of the Nagas. It demanded thorough investigation regarding the incident until justice is delivered.
CNSA: “The exorbitant and unbridled use of military force by the Indian security forces on the Naga people is not only a violation of the most basic Human rights but also a blatant violation of the Fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) stated. In a condemnation note it said, “Countless innocent lives have been discriminated against, terminated and subjected to suffering by the draconian law Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 and Disturbed Area Act imposed by the GoI to the Naga people. It is high time that the Government of India gives a serious consideration to the cries of the Naga people and withdraws AFSPA from Nagaland.”
AYO: “The manner in which those civilians were mercilessly shot and killed is a blatant violation of human rights, requiring a thorough investigation from the highest level to ascertain the facts. The perpetrators should be awarded befitting punishment as per the law,” the Angami Youth Organization (AYO) stated. “For decades, the paramilitary forces have used the draconian AFSPA as a tool to perpetrate unimaginable terror upon the Nagas. This horrific incident at Oting serves as a bleak reminder of the atrocities committed by Indian Military forces upon the Naga people for the past six decades. As long as the dreaded AFSPA exists, there will be terror and bloodbath of the innocent at the hands of the demonic paramilitary forces,” AYO said while demanding “the repeal of AFSPA in order to ensure justice, equality and basic human rights to the Naga people.”
DAYO: “In the first incident there was the cold blooded murder of six bread winners of their family and calling the ambush as intelligence failure is another level of insensitivity and insult to the priceless human lives lost for no fault of theirs. In the second subsequent incident the mishandling of the situation by the concerned authority of the security forces in dealing with the agitated mourners by indiscriminately firing at them led to more inhuman massacre taking the death toll to 14 and still counting. This unwarranted episode has exposed the army’s lack of professionalism, deviant orientation and misuse of law whose jawans are trigger happy to hunt down the unarmed civilians as animals,” Dimapur Ao Youth Organization (DAYO) stated in a statement.
Condemning such cowardly acts of killing innocent public in no uncertain terms, the organisation called upon the Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately court martial the erring officers and maniac jawans without fear or favour for setting an exemplary deterrent. In order to prove to the world that Indian army are at par with the best in the world should not defend its psycho killers under the garb of boosting their morale nor hide behind the AFSPA 1958, where any army jawan in the rank of a havildar can kill anyone and still go scot free, it stated. “At a time when there is much expectation for a Naga political settlement such major tragedy can undo the hard earned ceasefires, unless the Indian army exhibits the magnanimity to see that truth and justice is delivered at the earliest,” it added. DAYO has also called upon all Nagas to “boycott all the Samaritan projects initiated by different Indian military regiments because civilized people cannot accommodate and work hand in hand with blood stained killers of the highest order.” It also urged all Naga tribal apex bodies and civil societies to seize this painful moment and turn it into a people's movement for peace.
ASUD: Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) has demanded the state government to conduct a thorough investigation and deliver justice to the victims at the earliest. It also expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery of those injured.
AKM: Ao Students' Conference (AKM) stated that “imply publishing impudent and egotistical justification in media by the Indian Army and failing to comply to any humanitarian gestures, and furthermore, firing at the unrest agitating mob in the Mon District Head Quarter today, killing and injuring many innocent public, is totally unlawful and violates human rights.” AKM has urged the authority to immediately take stern action to the armed personnel who are involved in this well orchestrated shootout creating terror to the peaceful Naga Society. “We demand assurance from the Government to prevail justice to the bereaved family members,” it stated.
RSON: Rongmei Students’ Organization Nagaland (RSON) said that the “insanity and absurd act” displayed by the security forces “is a violation of human rights.” RSON said that the security forces have “committed many such heinous crimes in the land of Nagas and in NE region since AFSPA was implemented.” It appealed to the competent authority to book the erring soldiers involved in the killings and deliver justice to the bereaved family and ensure the safety of the public.
SKK: All Sumi Students Union (SKK) in its condemnation stated that the attack on armless and innocent civilians “is a shame and disgrace to the so called mighty Indian army.” It said that such cowardly act cannot be compromised and the SKK stands “openly with our brothers and sisters of Oting and our Eastern Naga family and will extend any kind of support physically and mentally when needed.” Further, it urged the appropriate authorities to investigate the matter with utmost priority and highest action be taken upon the culprits.
CYF: Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) said that “the real face of Indian military forces has been clearly exposed, they are not here to protect the innocent civilians, maintain peace and tranquility but to blatantly slaughter helpless section of the people with the most sophisticated weapons under the indemnity of infamous AFSPA, 1958 which empowers the armed forces to fire upon the innocent public even to the extent of causing death.” “Indiscriminate firing at the innocent civilians and merciless killings can never be justified in any manner but common public enemy. We will not tolerate an outsider forcefully entering into our house and ruthlessly killing our brothers,” CYF said in its note. CYF extended its unconditional support to the Konyak brothers while demanding the Government of India and Government of Nagaland to leave no stone unturned to deliver the befitting justice at the earliest.
CSU: Chakhesang Students' Union (CSU) stated that “such brutal and cowardice act on the part of the Indian security forces at a time when Nagas are yearning for peaceful settlement of Naga Political issue is most unfortunate. The perpetrators of the crime deserve the highest punishment and such act can never be tolerated under any circumstances.” CSU appealed to the Government of India to deliver justice by punishing the culprits responsible for the heinous crime. The Union also stated that no peace can be achieved by means of forces and violence and, therefore, “appeal the Government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 which is causing chaos and disturbing the peace of the state.” Furthermore, to express solidarity and support, CSU has directed all its affiliated units to hoist black flag in all educational institutions within their jurisdiction on December 6.
E(Y/P)SU: Enhulumi (Yoseba/Pfutsemi) Students’ Union said that it is deeply hurt by the killing of innocent civilians by the Indian Military Forces. “We always believed that Indian Military Force are in our land to protect us but today, we have learnt that Indian Military forces are not here to protect us but to destroy our innocent people. Such brutal and inhuman act of killing innocent lives at Oting is highly unacceptable and intolerable under any circumstances. The military forces involved in killing of innocent lives deserve the highest form of punishment under the law of the land” it stated while appealing the Government of India to deliver justice to the innocent lives by punishing the perpetrators at all costs. In solidarity, as appealed by Chakhesang Students’ Union, the Union has declared December 6, 2021 as Black Day under its jurisdiction. The union has requested the educational institutions under its jurisdiction to cooperate by hoisting the black flag.
DNSU: Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) in a press release issued by the media cell urged the Government of Nagaland to call off the ensuing Hornbill Festival. The Union also urged all Naga individuals and groups to abstain from the Hornbill Festival 2021 to show solidarity to the victims' families and community and “let the whole world know the atrocities committed by the Indian Armed Force against the innocent unarmed Naga civilians.”
Meanwhile, DNSU said that it “challenges the Indian Government on how long our people will suffer from this draconian law that targets the innocent and let the perpetrators get away scot-free. The cold-blooded killing of many innocent Naga civilians by the Paramilitary is a crime beyond terrorist acts. The existence of laws such as AFSPA is deplorable and it shows the inability of our system to address the problems of the masses democratically.” The Union, while condemning the incident, stated that AFSPA should have no place in Independent India and should be withdrawn. It also appealed the Government that the constituted high-level Special Investigation Team must thoroughly investigate with utmost seriousness and ensure justice.
KSU: Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU) said that the unprecedented incident committed by the security force “is a treat” and disturbing to the peace loving citizens. The atrocities committed will remain in the unforgotten history of the Eastern Nagas and the Nagas in general will not forget the heinous crime. The union terms the incident as ‘Colonial mentality’, it stated.
LSU: Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) said that the “exorbitant and unbridled use of military force by the Indian security forces on the Naga People is not only a violation of the most basic Human rights but also a blatant violation of the Fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.” It said, “The Indian security forces spare no opportunity to terrorize the Naga populace under the garb of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and it is high time that the Government of India give a serious consideration to the cries of the Naga people and withdraw AFSPA from Nagaland.”
USSC: United Sangtam Students Conference (USSC) expressed shock and said, “At this crucial period when we yearn for harmony and peace in our land, the barbaric act of security forces attacking and detaining civilians is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The security personals which are meant to protect us had failed in all aspects of their duty and as a human in any form.” “The Conference will not accept such heinous action in a civilized society and condemned such inhuman mass murdering of innocent civilians. USSC strongly demands thorough investigation regarding the incident until justice is served to the death and injured innocent civilians,” it urged.
WSYF: Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) in its condemnation said, “the highly trained Indian army is expected to protect lives of citizen and not otherwise. While the people of Nagaland are yearning for peaceful and lasting solution, the killing of innocent civilians by Indian Army is a shame and not acceptable, which needs condemnation from all sections of the society.” It urged the State Government to probe the incident and bring justice to the people at the earliest.
CCSU: Confederation of Chang Students' Union (CCSU) said, “While the Nagas are striving for maintaining peaceful environment in the state for decades it is deeply disturbed that the Security Forces (21 Para Unit) has committed such a heinous crime against the innocent civilians of the country, which is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.” It urged “the Government to take necessary actions so that justice is delivered at the earliest and peace is restored in our land.”
ENSUB: Eastern Nagaland Students' Union Bengaluru (ENSUB) expressed that the incident “is disheartening and intolerable in civilized Naga society.” “ENSUB is shocked and deeply disturbed that the precious lives were cut short by such an act of brutality and odious on the civilians who were the breadwinners of the families. Such irresponsible action of the Armed Forces makes one to question whether the Indian armies are for the security of the people or for creating insecurity and fear in the community of their presence,” it stated.
RSZ: Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ) said it is “appalled because with the International Hornbill Festival being celebrated on one hand and our honorable Chief Minister in Delhi for talks relating to Naga Political solution on the other hand, the Indian Armed forces are busy slaughtering innocent Nagas and blaming it on failed intelligence.” RSZ questioned the credibility of the tag ‘Friends of the Hill People’, “Because their act is not only highly condemnable but also inhumane of the highest degree. This also clearly portrays the ill intent of the Indian Government upon the Nagas. Leasing our Naga soil for a comfortable stay in the name of protecting the nation does not give the Indian Military the right to act any crime against the son of the soil.” RSZ called upon all the Nagas to come forward and fight together to repeal the archaic AFSPA from our land immediately.
It also pressed upon the State Government to act seriously and help remove the draconian AFSPA which is taking its toll on the Naga populace. RSZ appealed to the government to take the matter on top priority to safe guard its citizen's lives and see that justice is served by bringing the cold blooded murderers to book immediately and deal as per the law of the Nagas.
RSU: Rengma Students' Union (RSU) said that “when all sections of Nagas are eagerly yearning and anticipating for peaceful solution and peaceful existence, such deliberate barbaric acts perpetuated to citizens is totally uncalled for and highly condemnable. Nagas have lost their trust and confidence in the security forces and have lost the sense of safety and security in our own homes so long as draconian acts like the AFSPA continue to be imposed and misused.” RSU has called upon the Government of India to immediately revoke Armed Forces (Special Power) Act - 1958 and also appealed to the Government of the day to deliver uncompromised justice at the earliest
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