Continuous extension of AFSPA is something serious, says Nagaland University Professor

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Jan. 6 (EMN): Any kind of settlement of the Naga political issue would be seen as “under duress” as long as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is in force, observed political activist and Nagaland University Professor Rosemary Dzuvichu.

The continuous extension of AFSPA in the state is something “very serious”, she said speaking on ‘Oting and beyond-reflections on peace process and people’s solidarity’, organised by Resurgent Manipur as part of its weekly conversation on January 5.

“Nagas are on the threshold hoping for peace and hoping for an accord and in the midst of this when there is absolutely no attention given to the voices of the people. These are trigger points and dangerous signs of future conflicts if proper care is not taken,” Dzuvichu said. 

One really wonders what exactly the Government of India mean by continuously extending AFSPA even when the resolution has been passed on the floor of the assembly that the act should be repealed, she said, adding that only people who live in the region where AFSPA has been imposed will understand its consequences.

The Oting incident could have an impact on the ongoing peace process, according to her.

‘Because, the incident has woken up the government as to how serious this AFSPA can be if it is misused and it is also a question of an act that violates any kind of human rights,’ she said.

“The very term under which AFSPA was extended described Nagaland as ‘very disturbed’ and in a ‘dangerous situation’. For anyone who lives here in Nagaland finds this ridiculous,” she added.

‘Given the fact that Nagas are in a peace process and compared to the past, the people are at peace and the level of violence is very low. The only disturbance that occurred recently was that of killing by the Indian Army,’ she said.

She observed that the incident was “highly questionable”.

“Is the Indian army really creating this kind of disturbance to ensure that there is no peace in the state and the peace accord is not signed?” she asked.

Dzuvichu, who is also an advisor of the Naga Mothers’ Association, further questioned the seriousness of the Indian government in bringing about the solution to the Naga peace talk, saying that “all stakeholders actually are ready to sign a peace accord”. “It also is of great concern because it is a strong indication that the Centre doesn’t seem really serious in bringing about the solution of so many decades of militarisation and of conflict within ourselves and with the Government of India,” she said.

The professor also wondered the kind of recommendations the Central-level committee on the Oting incident would bring about.

“I am not very optimistic of what the committee is going to recommend because the repeal of AFSPA would really be a surprise for all of us,” she said, adding that it would indicate the sensitivity of the Government of India if it’s able to do so.

Reiterating that Nagaland is a state without a Human Rights Commission, she sought response from the National Human Rights Commission as to “what efforts have they done to ensure that the state government sets up a State Human Rights commission”.

A petitioner herself for setting up the state human rights commission some years ago, the professor said the case was disposed of with the excuse that the state did not have any funds for setting up one.

Through the university, the NHRC held interactions, seminars; and surprisingly till today, there has been no initiative from the NHRC.

She said that the independent fact finding report has been submitted to the United Nations HRC.

“After all these years, the Northeast has always been looked at and seen as ‘the other’.  Many of whom live in the conflict zone including the north-eastern region, no matter what profession they belong to, at the first instance, they are always looked as being related to or being a part of terrorism and being a part of terrorist groups,” she said.

“Unfortunately that’s the kind of mindset that mainland India has towards the Northeast. Unless the Government of India changes its mindset and changes its policy towards the region particularly with regard to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, I think we are going to see a much wider chasm between the region and the mainland in the coming years,” she added.