Taking strong exception to the extension of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 in Nagaland by six more months, Naga Hoho (NH) has questioned what was the necessity to impose “this most unwanted law” when the state has been declared peaceful?
In a press release, NH general secretary, K Elu Ndang, said AFSPA was only a means to terrorize and create fear among innocent people. “The Draconian Law is not to maintain law and order in the region but to act and suppress the people,” the general secretary said, adding that the imposition only proved “the iron hand of India and militarisation” against the Nagas.
The hoho asserted that the past decades had proved beyond doubt that through “this demonic law” many human rights have been abused and fundamental rights of its citizen violated by the armed forces.
Further, the Naga Hoho said that “this inhuman law” has lost its relevance in a civilised society and its applicability had no place in the modern world.
NH has, therefore, stated that AFSPA must be repealed if the government of India truly honoured the peace process and a peaceful solution to the “Indo-Naga” political talks.
The Hoho also expressed the view that Nagas cannot fully blame the Government of India for imposition /extension of AFSPA, saying the GoI alone might not have acted upon without the consent or recommendation from the state government. NH, therefore, appealed to the state government to seriously take initiative to remove “this draconian law from our land.”