COCOMI holds protest, condemnations pour in
Many demand repeal of afspa, candlelight vigil, silent prayer held at Ringui Village
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 09 2021: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Thursday organised a sit-in protest at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai against the recent killing of 14 civilians by Assam Rifles in Mon district of Nagaland and demanded the Government of India to repeal AFSPA from the northeast region even as several organisations condemned the massacre.

Representatives of various civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of COCOMI staged the sit-in-protest against "the brutal massacre of the Naga brethren" on December 4 at Oting in Mon district.

A two-minute silence was also observed for the bereaved souls.

Speaking at the protest site, COCOMI coordinator Ratan Longjam termed the Nagaland killing as a barbaric act.

It shows the outlook of mainland India towards the northeast people.

The imposition of draconian law, AFSPA for decades in the region by a government which boasts of being the largest democracy in the world shows the double standard nature of the government, he said.

Maintaining that numerous incidents of violating human rights and killing thousands of innocent public have occurred with impunity under AFSPA, he demanded the government to repeal the Act from the entire northeast states.

On the other hand, it is unfortunate for the chief minister of the state not to be able to raise his voice against the incident even when chief ministers of other northeast states have denounced the incident, he said.

He asked the CM to stop befooling the public with some mere comments of pursuing the demand of repealing AFSPA to get votes but to act with commitment.

Ratankumar, who is HERI-COUN president, categorically stated that AFSPA and democratic principles cannot exist together while asserting that AFSPA is colonial and inhumane in character and undemocratic in legislation, and, therefore, it does not have a place in any part of the country.

He also pointed out that several incidents have taken place in different parts of northeast region like the one at Oting recently, where innocent unarmed civilians were deliberately shot dead by the security forces.

"And the recent Oting massacre is another testimony to the prolonged oppression and annihilation by the Indian government," said Ratankumar.

COCOMI vowed to further their campaign jointly with other northeast CSOs to scrap the draconian law from the region.

COCOMI also urged the Union government to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from northeast India.

Placards with slogans like 'COCOMI condemns Oting massacre', 'Stop killing innocent people', 'Repeal AFSPA 1958', 'Respect Northeast people', 'Stop dehumanisation of NE people' were displayed by the protesters.

Meanwhile, condemning the killing of innocent civilians in Mon district, Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MY) has demanded repeal of the draconian law, Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 from North East at the earliest.

In a release, MTU law and justice secretary Jaco Khaidem contended that upon seeing the atrocities committed in the North East states for the last 60 years, the central government, which claimed to be the largest democratic country in the world, could not consider mongoloid people of North East region as Indians.

He denounced the statement made by Home Minister in the parliament stating that the Nagaland incident was an intelligence failure as unfortunate and irresponsible.

All those army officers and personnel involved in the incident should be court martialed, Jaco demanded.

Naga Christian Forum, Manipur (NCF-M), while "strongly condemning" the Oting killings, has offered its condolences to the victims' families.

NCF-M also prayed for quick healing of the injured.

"May the merciful Lord comfort and give strength to the near and dear ones they left behind," the forum prayed.

It then said that the long-drawn conflict situation between the "government of India and the Naga national movement" coupled with the enactment of AFSPA has set an environment where such unfortunate and painful incidents occur and re-occur over and over again".

Therefore, NCF-M appealed to all the authorities concerned to bring about a final solution to the issue at the earliest "so that a condition for a true and secured mutual respect and love is ushered in".

UKHRUL: In a show of solidarity with the Konyak brethren in Oting village, a candle light vigil cum silent prayer was observed at Ringui village here on December 7.The observance, while remembering the innocent victims of the Oting massacre, strongly condemned the horrific December 4 incident wherein the Indian Para Commandos killed 14 Naga civilians and caused multiple casualties at Tiru-Oting road in Mon district.

During the solidarity programme, a Carol Night Service was also jointly organised by the Voice of Tehillah (VoT), Ringui Christian Youth Society, Ringui Ramhon CYS, Sirarakhong CYS and Teinem CYS.

The youth societies jointly pledged to support the apex Naga civil societies in demanding justice and immediate repeal of AFSPA (Draconian law) from the entire Naga areas and northeast India.

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