Recalling that the Hornbill Festival in 2021 was abruptly called off following the Oting massacre by the Indian Army on December 4, 2021, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Global Naga Forum (GNF) have expressed deep anguish and disappointment over the setting up of an Indian Army Morung in the ongoing Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
NSF president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Khuvung described as “troubling” the move by the Indian Army to raise an Indian Army Morung at Naga Heritage Village.
NSF said that the act of setting up the Army Morung ostensibly done to “pay tribute to valiant soldiers” has ignited a wave of outrage and disbelief among the Naga people and human rights advocates. “The timing of this event is particularly distressing, given the unresolved and harrowing events surrounding the 2021 Hornbill Festival,” NSF said.
The federation stated that despite a government commission identifying 30 Indian army personnel as responsible for the heinous act, no criminal proceedings have been initiated against them even two years after the incident. NSF stated that “this failure of justice” intensified the pain and frustration felt by the Naga people. “Compounding this grievance is the continued enforcement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, which granted the Indian Army sweeping powers and facilitated the aforementioned massacre,” NSF stated.
It, therefore, “unequivocally” declared the Indian Army’s decision to raise an Indian Army Morung at the Naga Heritage Village as not only insensitive but also a direct affront to the established cultural norms of the Naga people. Further, NSF expressed dismay and questioned as to why the concerned departments allocated the site to the Indian Army in the very first place without due regard of the cultural appropriation and insensitivity to the deeply rooted traditions and values of the Naga people.
The federation demanded that the term “Indian Army Morung” be immediately replaced. It called upon the government of India to respect the sentiments of Nagas and “rectify this situation promptly.”NSF further urge Centre to address the longstanding demand of Naga people for repeal of AFSPA in the Naga homeland, and immediately initiate criminal proceedings against those responsible for the 2021 Oting massacre as an essential step towards justice and healing.
GNF: Global Naga Forum (GNF) expressed dismay that two years after the Oting and Mon massacre, the Indian Army raised a Naga Morung in the Naga Heritage Village “to pay tribute to the valiant soldiers” and “showcasing the rich culture and heritage of Nagaland.”
In a statement, GNF said that among other dignitaries, the Inspector General of the Assam Rifles (AR) was featured as a special guest at the Miss Hornbill International event. The forum described the Assam Riels as a force with a long, notorious history of committing atrocities against the Naga people including raping and abusing women.
Further, GNF stated that 30 Indian army personnel were identified as responsible for the massacre by the state police special investigation team. However, the forum said the government of India has blocked criminal proceedings against the perpetrators of the crimes and the murder victims were still denied justice.
It also stated that AFSPA, 1958, which enabled the Indian Army to massacre the 14 innocent Naga civilians, was still in force in Nagaland. “This is the current scene in the unending drama of India’s grim gift of democracy and modernity to the Naga indigenous people who still live separated in four Indian states and in Myanmar,” GNF stated.