Students participate in the staged sit-in dharna called by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) under the aegis of North East Students’ Organization (NESO) at Raj Bhavan area in protest against the imposition of AFSPA in North Eastern states on December 9. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, December 9 (MExN): More organisations from across the state and other parts of the world continue to express strong resentment over the Oting incidents on December 4 and 5, in which 14 civilians were killed by security forces.
FNBC: First Naga Baptist church (FNBC) in Texas, USA said, “This gruesome crime can never be dismissed off as a mistake, neither can you call the incident self-defense by gunning down unarmed civilians without any rhyme or reason. Your false display of regret is totally unacceptable. We demand Justice for the victims and their bereaved families at the earliest.”
The church also denounced the statements made by Indian home minister, Amit Shah, “for it is based purely on lies and deceptions and nothing more!”
“Looking back, our history has always been a story of sufferings and discriminations under the forceful occupation of India. This recent incident has time and again proved that the Indian government is devoid of any empathy and respect for the Nagas, but rather terrorizing, exploiting and murdering our people as they wish,” it stated.
Asserting “Enough is enough!” FNBC urged the Indian government to remove Arm Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from all the Naga inhabited areas immediately.
In its condolence, the church said, “We have lost many young men who loved the lord and His church. The hurt is deep and indeed painful, and their absence can never be replaced for each one of them were special in the sight of God. The church stands in solidarity with the families, and our prayers go out to all Naga brothers and sisters.”
NSUD: Naga Students’ Union Dibrugarh (NSUD) in its condemnation said, “This is a gross violation of basic human rights and values enshrined in our constitution.” The union assured that the two persons who were brought by “the Army and dumped in Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh with false allegations of being militants” shall be under the care and responsibility of the union throughout their treatment process at Dibrugarh. “We would give our best in helping them through thick and thin until they are fully recovered and discharged,” the union added.
ZSUN: Zeliang Students Union Nagaland (ZSUN) has condemned the most despicable action of the Indian security personnel and also the political leaders, some media houses, individuals and organisations who resorted to twisting the incident in favour of the armed forces without ascertaining the actual facts from the ground. ZSUN has appealed to both the Central and State Government to ensure speedy justice to the victims without fear and favour to uphold the true essence of justice for humanity.
Demanding immediate removal of the AFSPA, the union said, “It is more than obvious that the obsolete Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been a wicked tool for the many unrighteous officers and jawans of the armed forces to unleash terror amongst the citizens of North East India for more than half a century. Many more instances of human rights abuse and killings of innocent people had gone unreported and those reported also never saw the light of justice for the innocent victims, all under the suppression of AFSPA.”
“Under the regime of AFSPA, it is a matter of fact that justice will never be delivered as in the past many incidences of human rights violation in our land by the armed forces,” it said.
RNPC: Rengma Naga Peoples’ Council (RNPC) joined the rest of the world and condemned the inhuman act of the paramilitary which is a complete violation of Human Right to life. It strongly demanded for the repeal of AFSPA from all the Naga inhabitated areas in particular and the North-Eastern states in general.
CSUD: Chang Students’ Union Dimapur (CSUD) in its condemnation said that the indelible and cowardice act committed by the armed forces under the wings of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is a national disgrace at its finest. The Union asked the Central Government to immediately revoke this draconian Act.
KSUD: Konyak Students’ Union Dimapur (KSUD) stated that this inhuman and barbaric act has deeply disturbed and saddened the Konyaks in particular and the Nagas in general. “We vehemently condemn this heinous crime committed by the security forces upon the unarmed civilians on the pretext of mistaken identity,” it stated. KSUD also appealed to the Government of India and Government of Nagaland to thoroughly investigate the matter and give befitting punishment to those found guilty and deliver justice to the victims at the earliest and immediately repeal AFSPA.
YUD: Yimkhiung Union Dimapur (YUD) said, “No words can express the grief and pain of such degree of atrocity.” YUD extended support to the charter of demands of the Konyak Union and to deliver immediate justice for the innocent brothers. In solidarity with Konyak brothers and in observance of the 7 day mourning period as declared by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), the YUD 41st General Session scheduled to be held on December 11 is rescheduled on December 18, it stated.
KNUD: Kom Naga Union Dimapur (KNUD) alleged that “in the name of AFSPA and without considering the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement between India and the Naga, the special forces acted in their own whims.” It said that “compensation under any circumstances will not suffice this inhuman act committed by the Indian special force” KNUD therefore, demanded the Home Minister of India and Nagaland to “hold moral responsibility and resign immediately.”
