DIMAPUR, MAY 17 (MExN): North East Dialogue Forum has urged Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar for a strong political commitment to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from the North East.
Addressing a press meet at Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre, Dimapur on Friday, the Forum urged the two leaders to establish Special Investigation Teams to investigate all the AFSPA related crimes like extrajudicial killing, rape, disappearance, etc latest by October 2013 and punish all those involved according to the rule of law.
Handing out a press release to media persons, the NEDF urged for establishing a Special Commission to identify victims of AFSPA and provide psycho-social and emotional support/counselling, economic support and health care support. The Forum appealed for appropriate rehabilitation of the victims and survivors of atrocities committed under AFSPA.
Further, the Forum urged the Government of Nagaland and Government of India to provide human rights and gender training to all members of the armed security forces of India. The NEDF urged for political, economic, social and cultural dialogue with armed political opposition for an amicable political settlement in the region.
The Forum also stated that the Government of India should not allow the armed forces deployed in North East India to serve in the UN Peace Keeping Missions in other countries. The NEDF expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court of India for accepting cases related to AFSPA in October 2012 filed by Extrajudicial Execution Victim’s Family Association, Manipur and for its commitment to investigate six cases of killing seven persons including the killing of a minor student in Manipur.
The Forum said that the Commission chaired by Retired Justice Santosh Hegde, which was appointed by the Supreme Court had proved that the killing of seven persons was under extrajudicial execution. It said that the Commission had strongly recommended repealing the AFSPA to avoid such incidents in the future. The Forum said that the Defence Ministry had sought four weeks time for necessary steps. The next hearing for the case has been fixed for June 4. The press release was signed by members of NEDF, human rights organisations and other environmental groups from Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.
