NPMHR observes 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights at Spt
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Senapati, December 10 2018:
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (South sector) while commemorating the 70th International Human Rights Day at the Tahamzarn (Senapati) Mini Stadium today, recounted the hardships experienced by the Nagas.
According to the NPMHR-S, the Naga people have experienced untold miseries and hardships in the course of their movement for self-determination in India and Burma with both countries unleashing a reign of terror, killing thousands of Nagas to suppress them.
It also said that the Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1997 ushered in temporary respite from violent arm confrontation and hope for peace among the Nagas.
The NPMHR-S added that the prolonged peace process resulted in the signing of a Framework Agreement in 2015 which recognised the political position and history of the Nagas.
"However, the unabated military build-up and relentless development aggression continue to haunt the Nagas and their concern for peace is being ignored," the NPMHR-S said, adding, "The continued enforcement of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act which provides state forces with impunity and even 'shoot to kill' powers is a grave human rights threat" .
The NPMHR-S said that, in this background it commemorated the 70th International Human Rights Day today.
The event commenced with a rally through Tahamzam (Senapati) town demanding for "democratic spaces for the Nagas to rebuild the 'homes' which India, the world's 'largest democracy', and the Burmese military junta have destroyed" .
Dr Gina Shangkham, former Secretary General, NPMHR stated that 10 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, India imposed the most draconian law in the form of the Armed Forces (Special power) Act; the rights of the Nagas were violently suppressed.
"New forms of rights violation are now being witnessed with development aggression, land alienation and economic policies that further marginalizes, excludes and disenfranchises those already in the fringes," Dr Gina Shangkham alleged.