Global Naga Forum (GNF) has expressed vehement condemnation of the decision by the Centre to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, which it said, only served to perpetuate a distressing cycle of violence, oppression, and human rights violations against the Naga community.
Global Naga Forum through its media cell, said the recent action highlighted the government of India’s blatant disregard for international human rights norms and democratic principles. Further, the forum said the continuation of AFSPA in Nagaland, which designates entire districts and police stations as “disturbed areas,” blatantly infringed upon the rights of indigenous peoples and exposed the government of India’s abuse of authority.
It described AFSPA as an oppressive law that granted extensive powers to security forces to use lethal force, make arrests without warrants, and conduct searches without consent, had led to rampant impunity and the victimization of innocent civilians, it said.
Global Naga Forum said the decision of the BJP government to uphold AFSPA in Nagaland was not only indefensible but also reprehensible, especially amidst ongoing peace negotiations between Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and the Indian government.
“Rather than addressing these underlying issues through meaningful and result-driven dialogue and, the Indian authorities have chosen to rely on rhetoric, militarization and repression, further alienating the Naga people and hindering the prospects for lasting peace and stability in the region,” GNF alleged.
Further, GNF said the renewal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) underscored the government of India’s failure to address the root causes of conflict in Nagaland and engage substantively in the “Indo-Naga Political Talks”.
GNF urged upon the international community to condemn the renewal of AFSPA in Nagaland and demand its repeal and to stand in solidarity with the Naga people’s pursuit of justice, peace, and self-determination.