DIMAPUR, NOV 27 (MExN): The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has condemned the attempt on the life of Xavier Rutsa, a senior journalist of a local paper who was grievously hurt by the ill motivated design of some unknown assassins on the night of November 24, in Kohima.
“NPMHR considers the press fraternity as co-defenders of human rights and terms the attack as a grave threat and intimidation to larger Human Rights defenders in our society”, stated a press communiqué issued by Nepuni Piku Secretary General, NPMHR and Dr. Lanusashi Longkumer Convenor, Nagaland sector.
“NPMHR shares our unwavering solidarity with the injured Xavier and wishes him a speedy recovery as he recuperates from this shocking attack on his physical integrity and life”, it stated while pointing out that a vigilant press along with its investigative and impartial factual reporting had been one of the corner stone contributing towards ensuring effective participation of the people, accountability of the state and promoting good governance in any vibrant democracy.
Terming the attack on the Fourth Estate as a dangerous trend, the NPMHR viewed it as not only threatening but also intimidating the functioning of a just society and limiting its critical space besides impeding the process of democratic change.
Pointing out that throughout the world individual activists or investigative journalists were often targeted because those who benefit from the injustice of status-quo perceived them as a threat and in order to evade judicial responsibility, quash public scrutiny or silence criticism, utilizes forces outside the chain of command to issue threats or carry out extrajudicial execution.
Further taking cognizance of the existing legal frameworks such as AFSPA in disturbed areas, the NPMHR termed this as inconsistent with international standards, which provided a good environment encouraging the continuing human rights abuse in our society.
“The flawed process of transition towards peace wherein continuing attacks on the vulnerable sections and incidences of extra-judicial executions is very evident in our case even now during this period of political process in the search for a just settlement”, it stated while also expressing serious concern over the inability on the part of the state to dispense any semblance of justice besides not being able to uphold their democratic accountability.
The NPMHR also demanded that adequate and precautionary security measures be provided to those who are under serious threat to the safety of their life from inimical forces. It appealed to the Government of India to ensure that the recent cases of human rights abuses be promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigated and those suspected of responsibility are brought to justice in a court of law so that the existing culture of ‘impunity’ which corroded the democratic essence was dealt forthwith restoring the confidence of the people in the ‘rule of law’.
