Condemnation against Mon carnage continues
CSCHR questions CM Biren's silence on Nagaland killings
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 08 2021:
Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) strongly condemned the brutal killing of 14 innocent civilians and injuring many others in Mon district, Nagaland by para commandos of Assam Rifles on December 4 .
In a release, HERICOUN vice president Laishram Sanajaoba contended that in-spite of Union government's claim of being oneness with the Mon goloid people of North East states, their way of looking at people of North East has not changed at all.
A vivid example is that the draconian AFSPA, 1958 is still imposed in the north eastern States till now.
With the Act acting as shield for the security forces, civilians are being mercilessly killed, suppressed and tortured, he denounced.
Observing that there is differential treatment in the states affected by Naxalite and the north east states by the government, Sanajaoba said that the centre should stop oppressing people of north east region.
He extended condolences to the bereaved families of those who were killed in the Mon carnage.
In another release, National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO) strongly condemned the inhumane killing of civilians by Assam Rifles in Mon district.
The release urged the north east states affectedby the draconian AFSPA 1958, to join hands for ensuring repeal, of the Act from the North East region.
While sharing pain of the bereaved families, the release said that NIPCO will endorse any further movements, against the Act and the carnage.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Coalition: on Human Rights and the United Nations (CSCHR) has questioned the stoic silence maintained by chief minister N Biren over the killing of civilians in Mon district of Nagaland on December 4.It also 'strongly' urged the government of Manipur to put its weight for the repeal of AFSPA in order to fulfil the long-standing demand and mooted that CM Biren should to join other chief ministers of the northeast states in pressing for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
"The Oting massacre is not an isolated incident, but it is yet another manifestation of the consistent pattern of atrocities committed by the Indian military deployed under AFSPA, 1958.in the northeast region for more than half a century," said a CSCHR statement on Tuesday.
This unfortunate incident has rekindled the long-standing demand for the repeal of AFSPA, added the statement, signed by CSCHR convener Phulindro Konsam.
The United Nations human rights mechanism, including all the relevant treaty bodies, thematic special procedures and universal periodic review have recommended the repeal of AFSPA as it grossly violates the most basic human rights, it said.
It is encouraging to note the chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya have reverberated the voice of sanity to repeal this draconian law, and the issue has now echoed in the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi.
The CSCHR said it was the obligation of the government of India to not only institute prompt, though, independent and impartial investigation but also for restitution of the loss suffered by the families of the victims, caused by the wrongful act of the state.
In the release, the CSCHR recalled the Heirangoithong massacre, Operation Bluebird (Oinam massacre), Mokokchung massacre, RMC massacre, Malom massacre, etc.
It further stated that the unfortunate Oting incident in Nagaland has rekindled the longstanding demand for the repeal of AFSPA, adding that all committees and commission looking into the issue have consistently recommended to repeal it.