Incarceration of Anthony Ningkhan Shimray - Degrading and a set back : PUCL
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, September 27 2014 : In the 4th year of the arrest and continued imprisonment of Anthony Ningkhan Shimray, the Chief of Foreign Affairs of the NSCN (IM), the Naga People's Union for Civil Liberties (NPUCL) today termed the act degrading and added that it is a major set back for the organization he represents.

Shimray who is one of the top rung leaders of the outfit and represented the organization at a number of peace talks in and outside India, is currently under judicial custody like any other criminal.

Counsel Warso Zimik who earlier represented Shimray in the Delhi NIA special Court recounted the two version of his arrest, the official one by the NIA that he was apprehended at Patna railway station on October 1 and the other that he was arrested at Kathmandu on September 27, 2010.Zimik recalled that Shimray himself had called and informed that he was taken to some border areas on September 27 and that he was being harassed and tortured.

Referring to the ceasefire and peace talk ground rules, Zimik questioned the intention of the GoI and argued that this is clearly a violation of the "peace process".

As per the current legal procedure and status, he is lodged in Tihar Jail like a "criminal." It is a sad situation not only for Shimray but for the organization and for GoI, observed Zimik.

According to the advocate, an FIR was lodged against Shimray in 2009 and he was charged sheeted under IPC 122 and 120 (B) - collecting arms, etc., with the intention of waging war against the Government of India.

He was also booked under UAPA.

"There are altogether 58 witnesses, out of which 33 have been examined.

The 6 witnesses were protected witnesses" he said.

Human rights activist Tapan Bose, who had a long association with the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights recalled that besides the AFSPA 1958 which is a draconian law to suppress popular movements, a new agency called the National Investigation Agency (NIA) came up in 2002 during the AB Vajpayee rule which has become even more dangerous.

The NIA was the key agency in arresting Shimray, who had in fact informed of his arrival to India via Katmandu for peace talks to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) .

Bose stressed on the need for civil society organisations to participate in the peace process.

Emphasizing on the Nagas of Manipur, Bose went on to state that peace negotiation should encompass protection and promotion of language, customs, traditions, land etc.

while raising critical questions on Article 317 (c) of the Indian Constitution which he said has eroded and failed in the State.

This constitutional basis could well be the beginning of the negotiation and re-claiming of the fundamental and Constitutional rights in the hills of Manipur, feels Bose.

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