Naga Mothers’ Association condemns tying of rakhis on Assam Rifles personnel

Dimapur, Aug. 28 (EMN): The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has condemned the recent tying of rakhis on the Assam Rifles personnel in Dimapur and Tamenglong by some Naga women on the occasion of Raksha Bhandan.

Terming it as a “questionable act”, the NMA stated that its objection was not about cultural practices or religious differences but about the denial of justice for the atrocities meted out to the Nagas, including its women and children under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

“For us Naga women, traumatised by a genocidal history of rapes, molestation, killings, village groupings, inhumane army atrocities at the hands of Indian armed forces under the impunity of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), it is a shame and a black day to witness our women, tying rakhis and felicitating these very armed forces, when we are yet to see justice for war crimes and human rights violations committed against our own women, children and men,” read the press statement.

It said that such acts will be questionable till Nagas are forced to live under AFSPA, while citing several past incidents like Matikhrü massacre, Operation Bluebird at Oinam and surrounding villages, Mokokchung arson, Pangsha fake encounter and Wuzu firing.

It also expressed objection to the recent press statement of 44 Assam Rifles, Tamenglong in Manipur, saying that ‘they are not in a position to sermonise in the face of the past atrocities’.

The NMA went on to urge the national secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha, President of Dimapur District Mahila Morcha, and student union and women in Tamenglong to demand the government of India and the Central BJP leaders to repeal the AFSPA and serve justice for past atrocities instead of “carrying out such objectionable programmes”.