Dimapur, Nov 5 (MExN): The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) today condemned the allegations of human Rights violation by the Naga IRB personnel in Chattishgarh and demanded a NPMHR demanded the constitution of an Independent Investigating Committee to investigate into the whole incident and unearth the truth behind the serious allegations.
A press release issued by Nepuni Piku, Secretary General and Dr. Lanu Sashi Longkumer, Convenor of the NPMHR Nagaland sector stated that the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) condemns the serious allegations of human rights violation such as killing of innocent civilians, destruction of villages through burning and forceful relocation to camps, violation of womanhood, brutal and arbitrary butchering of domestic animals, etc, in Chattisgarh by the Naga IRB soldiers sponsored by the Union Home Ministry (of India).
The release expressed solidarity with the affected communities in Chattishgarh and supported the Naga Hoho’s unqualified apology to the affected people in Chattishgarh.
Expressing their confidence on the human rights group like the PUDR, PUCL and the APDR, the release stated that the NPMHR had worked closely with those groups in the past and asserted that these groups are impartial and independent bodies with unquestioned credibility. The release also added that the groups which led the All India Team and Independent Citizens Initiatives (ICI) are responsible members with the highest integrity, which have in the past exposed many Human Rights violation cases in the Northeast including Nagaland and regretted that the state machinery is duping the public with concocted statements for their own interests forgetting the masses.
The release alleged that there was a disinformation campaigns by the state forces especially the DGP Chattisgarh, against the allegations by the rights groups.
The release also strongly questioned the IRB personnel’s alliance with the Salwa Judum whom the NPMHR termed as an amorphous and undisciplined group operating under the patronage of the Chattishgarh government, the NPMHR wondered how the state leadership can allow the IRB personnel to work with a band of criminal elements.
Expressing that the allegation will have serious multiple socio, cultural and political implications on the Naga people the NPMHR asked the Nagaland government to spell what kind of peace the Naga IRB are fighting for in Chattishgarh and urged them to avoid further judgmental oratory Naga soldiers are displaying Indian nationalistic fervor through brutalizing the civilians in others homeland.
Asserting its clear stand against the deployment of the IRB jawans since from the beginning, the NPMHR again reiterated its demand for pulling out the Nagaland Armed Police personnel. The release alleged that the Naga jawans were recruited and raised under the control of Union Home Ministry (of India) through its superfluous camouflage Indian Reserve Battalions, to avoid international scrutiny and accountability on violation of human rights.
Expressing their doubt at the Indian government’s policy of recruiting the youths in the different armed forces under the pretext of national security the NPMHR seriously questioned whether the North East were fit only for martial duty and as cannon feeder apart from other employment; they alleged that there was an agenda behind Delhi’s policy to further divide the society on economic lines so that they can exploit the region and appealed to the people of the region to people to question the Indian government’s policy of recruiting the youths from the North East under the shadow of national security and creation of more employment.
The NPMHR further asserted that the People should not become willful partners in the suppression of different Nationalities and oppressed peoples struggling in India, understanding the horror and pain our people had to undergo in our resistance against the Indian military occupation of our Homeland.
The NPMHR asked Nagaland government to train the Naga polices forces to respect and uphold their responsibility within the due process of law. A band of free floating and unaccountable Naga Police forces in Chattisgarh can be a greater source of danger to the establishment of a future civilized Naga society.
The NPMHR also strongly supported the Naga Hoho who on 25th October 2006 at Kohima expressed unqualified apologies to the affected people in Chattisgarh and considers the planting of Naga IRB in Chattisgarh at this sensitive phase of the Indo-Naga political process as a strategy to discredit the legitimacy of the ongoing political negotiation in the face of the large majority of the Indian civilian population.
With the many allegations on the Naga IRB Battalion posted in Chattisgarh and listening to the many anomalies involved even with the bringing back of dead Gunny bags of Naga soldiers, NPMHR demand the state Government to own up their responsibility and do justice at the earliest through the constitution of an Independent Investigating Committee which will give succor to the many harassed and effected innocents of Chattisgarh besides leaving a clear conscience of the Naga people who seeks justice and peace.
