Global Naga Forum urges India to deliver justice to Oting victims, repeal AFSPA

Dimapur, Dec. 5 (EMN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has appealed to the government of India to serve justice to the families of the 14 innocent civilians, who were killed by the Indian army personnel in Oting and Mon a year ago, by prosecuting the culprits under the civil law.

It also urged the Centre to “immediately” repeal the 64-year-old Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), terming it as a military law designed to kill civilians.

In a public statement, the GNF lamented the Government of India failing to prosecute the guilty even a year after the Oting incident despite the state government-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) naming 30 army personnel involved in the killings. It said tragedies of the victims’ families continue without recourse because of Centre’s inaction.

The forum said that it continues to mourn the dead and stands for justice in solidarity with the families of the victims and the Naga people.

It also accused the Indian armed forces of repeatedly violating the Naga people’s basic rights, self-determination and peace since the mid-1950s, citing Oting and Mon killings in December last year and three incidents that happened since — explosive device being planted at Puilang in Tamenglong, occupation of nine Naga villages in Ukhrul district and shooting of Chasa villagers in Arunachal Pradesh which left two persons injured.

The GNF stated that crimes against Nagas continue because of the AFSPA, which is still in force, amid the negotiations between the government of India and Naga political groups said to be in the final stage of settling the 75-year-old Indo-Naga political problem.

It went on to thank foreign governments and international communities, including the USA, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Estonia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Costa Rica,

Brazil, Lithuania, Italy, Pakistan, and Greece for raising questions about the legitimacy of AFSPA in the United Nation Human Rights Council during the 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review held in Geneva last month.

Maintaining that 14 foreign governments objected to AFSPA over violation of human rights, it expressed hope that the Centre will act responsibly by repealing the draconian law, in compliance with obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.