Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, JULY 23
The state capital came to a standstill for nearly two hours on Thursday as over ten thousand students and representatives from various non-governmental organizations joined the mass protest rally organized by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The rallyists, mainly school and college students in uniforms, took to streets in Kohima town shouting slogans – ‘We want – Peace’, ‘We want – Human justice and ‘We don’t want – Army rule’.
As the rallyists marched out from Kohima local ground to Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland, the city came to a standstill for almost one-and-half hours from 12 noon to 1.30 pm. Unlike the other days where there used to be regular heavy traffic in Kohima town, not even a single vehicle was seen moving between local ground and Raj Bhavan during the rally.
With the incessant rains in Kohima since the last couple of days, the rallyists were also made to overcome the drizzles. Even after reaching the junction-point infront of the official residence of Superintendent of Police, Kohima, which is adjacent to The Heritage, the students were stopped by the police personnel from going very close to the Raj Bhavan. However, the student leaders persuaded the police officers on duty to get a bit closer to the Raj Bhavan. But this was permitted only after the student leaders made it clear that the rally was a peaceful protest and that the students won’t indulge in any untoward action or violence.
Soon, the student leaders led by NSF president Subenthung Lotha, met Governor P.B Acharya and submitted a memorandum.
The NSF rally was organized in protest against the ‘Wuzu massacre’ of July 16 and also to press for immediate repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958.
The memorandum also demanded punishment of the culprits responsible for the ‘Wuzu massacre’.
“The Naga students’ community and the Nagas are aghast by the Wuzu massacre. Fully comprehending the dangerous fallouts of the prolonged unjust war, we appeal to your esteemed office to hear our democratic voice and to fulfill our immediate demands,” stated the memorandum submitted to the Governor.
The NSF memo, copies of which were also sent to the Chief Minister, Home Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Nagaland, also demanded the armed forces both military and para-military to be recalled back to their respective camps from their ruthless operation.
It may be recalled that two innocent students namely Tüzali (14 years) of Phor village and Aso (13 years) of Wuzu village were killed last week on July 16 allegedly by personnel of the 46th Assam Rifles at Wuzu village under Meluri sub-division of Phek district.
“The victims, both standard seven students of GHS Pholary, were killed without any provocation when they were waiting (along with other villagers) for the arrival of the corpse of two slain NSCN (K) cadres who were killed in an encounter with the AR troupes at Avakhung, the last Pochury village bordering Myanmar,” recalled a student leader.
Mention may be made that the indiscriminate firing also injured one Vitsürho Esther, a married woman from Wuzu village.
Addressing the rally at Kohima local ground earlier, various leaders representing Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Pochury Students’ Union (PSU) and Naga Students’ Federation, strongly voiced their resentment against the ‘inhuman’ action of the 46th AR personnel at Wuzu village on July 16.
The NGO leaders, while pressing for immediate revocation of AFSPA, also alleged there have been many cases of atrocities committed by security forces in Naga soil under the ‘draconian law’ – AFSPA.
Many of the speakers also slammed the Assam Rifles for deviating from their popular tag “Friends of the hill people”. “The Assam Rifles are not friends, but enemy of the hill people,” one of the speakers said.
‘India is governing us (Nagas) in the name of the world’s greatest democracy just to kill innocent people. And this is a mockery,” said Neingulo Krome, secretary general of NPMHR.
One of the speakers while slamming the security forces for their atrocities also urged the Naga underground cadres for total commitment in their service.
The NSF president Subenthung Kithan, Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum, NMA president Abeiü Meru and PSU president Joyson also addressed the mass rally.
