NPF flays AFSPA extension in Nagaland

Urges the Centre to exhibit sincerity and expedite the Naga political solution

Dimapur, July 3 (EMN):  The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed dismay at the declaration of entire Nagaland as “disturbed area” for six more months by the government of India, stating that the Nagas were expecting the Centre to seriously work for the final solution to the vexed Naga political problem.

The party also urged the BJP-led government to exhibit sincerity and expedite the Naga political solution.

The statement came three days after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the controversial Armed Forces (Special power Act) (AFSPA) 1958 in Nagaland till December end.

‘When the government of India signed a framework agreement with the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015 and further strengthened the process by bringing the NNPGs to the negotiating table, the whole of Naga populace was hopeful for concluding the talks but the central government declaring the whole of Nagaland state as disturbed is highly worrisome,’ the statement read.

It stated the Nagas were hopeful that the vexed political issue would be solved with the BJP-led coalition forming the government but it kept extending the draconian Act to the state instead, though the law has “no tangible contribution to the peace process”. It added that the Act has created an environment of distrust and the people feel oppressed.

“The Naga people have been extending unstinted support to the Indo-Naga peace process since the ceasefire in 1997 and have been asking the government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or at least lift it from Naga areas so as to create a conducive atmosphere for the peace negotiations to take place,” it said.

“The continued extension of this act might be interpreted as an attempt to exploit the long-suffering condition of the Naga people to impose a forced Accord on us, instead of a mutually agreed and negotiated settlement,” it added.