Clampdown on Naga civil society leader decried
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2020: Many organisations and peace and human rights groups concerned have strongly condemned the silent yet targeted attack by the Government of India and its agencies, on the Naga civil society leaders and the leaders of the NSCN.

A statement signed by more than 100 renowned personalities and organisations, narrated that Neingulo Krome, secretary general of Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), was illegally and unlawfully de-boarded from a Kolkata-Bangkok flight on February 5 by the immigration authorities at Kolkata.

He was allegedly told that he is not allowed to travel abroad as per the orders of the Government, it claimed adding that no additional clarification was offered to him nor any list shown with his name.

The statement continued that by not allowing the leader of one of India's oldest human rights organisations to travel abroad, the Central Government has made yet another statement about their intolerance and arrogance.

It further expressed concern that it is also, in many ways, an open attack on the Naga people's rights, amidst a 23 year old peace process and ceasefire.

Despite having signed the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) in 2015, the Government of India is yet to concretise or publicise the details of the document.

The insult to dignity and denial of travel rights for the NPMHR leader is yet another sign of GoI's disrespect towards and backtracking from the ceasefire agreement and the FA, it alleged.

It conveyed that the Government of India, while battling without an escape route on the siege in Jammu & Kashmir, is opening another war front in the North East region.

The illegal and unlawful de-boarding of Krome is preceded by several cases that Government agencies have been slapping on Naga people, it alleged, claiming that a few civil society leaders and NSCN cadres have been framed under UAPA and are languishing in jails.

Krome was a key speaker at the NAPM biennial held at Puri, a couple of months back and at the Democratic Rights Convention in Delhi in September last year, it informed.

He is an important and committed human rights defender from the region and he leads one of the most respected HR organisations, world over, it said, condemning the act of the Government and demanding Krome to be allowed to travel.

It also demanded the Government to respect the spirit and letter of the peace process and desist from the alleged witch-hunt against Naga people and their leaders.

Comment