Naga Mothers’ Association demands repealing of AFSPA in all Naga-inhabited areas

Dimapur, April 4 (EMN): The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has demanded the government of India (GoI) to the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from all Naga areas in consonance to women’s right to peace and security, while citing peace brought about by the signing of ceasefire between the GoI and Naga political groups.

In a memorandum submitted to Nagaland Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, the NMA sought his immediate intervention.

The association expressed deep anguish over continuation of the AFSPA in nine districts of Nagaland and select towns in other districts, saying that it objects “the selective and continued militarisation on our Naga people through such extension of the AFSPA, citing peaceful areas as disturbed areas”.

“This is an insult to the many years of peace making and peace keeping by the Naga mothers and other women organisations,” read the memorandum.

“Despite the tragedy of the Oting massacre, it is evident that the Indian armed forces are unrepentent and intent on hunting innocent Naga civilians in our Naga areas,” it added while condemning “the killing and injury of Naga civilians at Kalegaon in Arunachal Pradesh in March 2022 by para commandos and the shooting of innocent Naga, daily wagers once again in Chasa, Arunachal Pradesh in April 2022 by the 12 Para Commandos”.

“We are in solidarity with the grief and anger of our brethren in Naga areas of Arunachal Pradesh and demand swift punitive action in civil court on the perpetrators, as per the law,” it continued.

The NMA said that “apologies of ‘mistaken identity’ in all these cases are unacceptable and not tenable”, adding that Naga mothers had children and youth shot dead and “Naga women and girls have borne the brunt of humiliating rapes and sexual crimes at the hands of Indian armed forces for decades since 1958.

It added that Nagas are yet to see justice against perpetrators of several brutal past incidents like Oinam Operation Bluebird in Manipur, Matikhru massacre, Kohima bomb blasts, Tseminyu killings, Mokokchung killings, Oting massacre and “countless others”.

“We demand that the GOI proves its respect for Naga women and our people by ensuring that uniformed Indian army perpetrators be convicted in civil courts for all these enumerated incidents, as per the law,” read the memorandum, which added that “no amount of money will ever compensate the grief, trauma and suffering of the Nagas under the AFSPA for all these years”.

The NMA also expressed confidence that the governor would convey the stand of Naga mothers to the government of India.