Post-Mon killings, bodies pitch for repealing AFSPA
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 07 2021: Many organisations strongly condemned the massacre that took place in Mon district of Nagaland, where 14 innocent civilians were killed and many left injured by in firing by Indian security forces (Assam Rifles) on December 4 .

In separate releases, Committee on Human Rights, Manipur (COHR), United Committee Manipur,(UCM) and World Meetei Council pointed out that AFSPA, 1958 gives the army absolute power to commit massacre, rape, destruction of property and curtail all fundamental rights of the people.

Ever since declaration of North East (NE) India as disturbed areas under Section 3 of the Act, people of the region have been enduring crimes committed by security forces in the name of Counter Insurgency Operation (CIO) under the shadow of AFSPA.

In fact, it is retaliation on civilians when they are unable to confront the armed groups, the releases observed, while adding that the recent massacre of civilians in Nagaland is also one of the glaring examples.

While expressing solidarity to the people of Nagaland and conveying condolences to the bereaved families, they appealed to all the people of NE for concerted campaign in a democratic way to demand repeal of the draconian AFSPA-1958 and to bring justice to the innocent civilians who were killed by security forces.

In another joint release, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibee Apunba Manipur and All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA) strongly condemned the killing of 14 innocent coal miners by Assam Rifles in Nagaland.

Contending that the government remained deaf despite numerous protests for repealing AFSPA, the joint release said that India will be considered a military nation and not a democracy if the government fails to initiate stringent punishment to security personnel responsible for killing the innocent civilians under the shadow of AFSPA.

The central government has been trying to suppress the innocent people of North East by giving more power to army and security forces and patronising violation of human rights, the bodies alleged.

They also contended that leaders of the Union government are interested in safeguarding interest of the Northeast people.

Instead, they remain idle under the pretext of instituting high-level enquiry which only testifies how the government treats people of North East, it maintained.

Highlighting the need for collective struggle against the brutality of security forces, the joint release urged the people of north east states for a joint struggle instead of protesting exclusively for their own states to remove AFSPA.

Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) Manipur, North East Indigenous People's Forum (NEIPFj and Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) also condemned the killing of innocent villagers in Oting, Mon district of Nagaland by Indian Army on December 4.In a release, KKL Manipur secretary general Ngamkheingakpa Luwang demanded immediate trial of the culprits as war criminals.

Nagaland state is said to be under a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India.

However, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 is still enforced there to justify such genocidal killings and hence Union home minister Amit Shah should immediately move a Bill in the Indian Parliament to repeal the AFSPA immediately, it added.

KKL Manipur also reminded that Manipur is under the grip of AFSPA since 1958 where many Manipuri womenfolk have suffered under the impact of the AFSPA.

People of the state have been appealing to the government of India for the last 50 plus years for repealing AFSPA.

As the draconian side of the Act has been exposed in neighbouring Nagaland, it is high time the people of the entire North-East of India unite for demand revocation of AFSPA from the region, it said.

Similarly, NEIPF chief convener Anup Chetia demanded scrapping of all draconian laws, particularly AFSPA, at the earliest.

The Forum also shared the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families, near and dear ones and prayed that the Almighty God grant solace to those left behind in grief and loss.

Meanwhile, addressing a press meet on Tuesday, MUSU president Maibam Maikel stated that the Union will actively take part in protests organised by CSOs of Manipur against the brutal acts of security forces in Nagaland perpetrated under the immunity granted by AFSPA.

He also expressed that the chief minister will keep his promise of shifting Assam Rifles from MU campus.

There is no guarantee that the incident that happened in Nagaland may not happen in MU.

Thus, the government should relocated the AR post from the varsity at the earliest, the MUSU president said.

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