The Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) organised a virtual panel discussion on the theme “repeal APFSA: perspective from Northeast India and beyond” on December 11.
A press release from the NSA executive council informed that associate professor, Oriental Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Ellen Konyak Jamir who is also a member of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in her brief description of the Oting massacre termed it as “reliving past traumas” for Nagas.
She said that since it had occurred “within the geopolitical grand narrative of Nagalim”, it garnered international attention and solidarity, however, she expressed grave concern over the possibility of turning ordinary grief into complicated grief in the aftermath of such traumatic events.
This concern was stated in view of Nagaland as a state which she said was ill-equipped to provide emotional and mental care to a large number of individuals.
Academician, journalist, author and International Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), professor Sanjoy Hazarika in his talk was appalled that Nagaland still did not have a state Human Rights Commission, taking cognizance that the Act was implemented five years before it was even recognised as a state.
In this regard, he said that the need for the state government to set up the commission was crucial.
Executive director, Human Rights Alert, Babloo Loitongbam pointed out that this incident was “not an isolated incident” but a recurring incident taking place in the Northeast.
He made a strong suggestion of forging an alliance among the North Eastern region who had shared experiences of living under AFSPA for half a century.
Cautioning that peace was in jeopardy if Northeast India did not wake up to fight against the racialization of Indian politics, founder-director of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network & Global Alliance, Binalakshmi Nepram questioned why if the Act was carried out under the auspices of law and order, the army was allowed to operate within civilian spaces.
Nepram said that AFSPA was critical since the Northeast was one of the most militarised regions in the world and further urged the people to elect leaders who have the courage to speak up for their people.
The discussion further addressed questions on what was insidious in the text of the law and how the Indian judicial system itself had dealt with the law.
In the light of the ongoing process to the demand to revoke AFSPA, the Oting incident has highlighted the need to prosecute the soldiers responsible for the killings of civilians under the Indian law system, Loitongbam stated.
Contextualizing AFSPA from historical perspective, professor Hazarika gave a brief overview of the act.
He said that the Act, as argued by a member from Manipur, was a “lawless law” that would “never bring peace and justice to the hills or anywhere else in Nagaland”.
Nepram drew attention to the significance of political securitization of the Northeast region and how it had often been termed as anti-national.
By reaffirming the United Nation charter, she asserted, “When there is power and wrongful power…if our stomachs are kicked, if our dignities are hurt, there will be resistance.”
Loitongbam encouraged the participants to keep the dialogue and engagement with the cause alive as the centre would act “only when the political imperatives are clear”. It is thus a decisive time for civil societies, scholars, activists and every thinking population to act and demand for the removal of AFSPA, he said.
Rev. Dr. Jamir emphasised on the state’s relative tranquillity during the last few years and how the attempt to put things right had been interrupted by this ill-fated incident.
As a symbolic tribute to the fourteen murdered civilians, she read out their names to the audience.
Emeritus Professor, Washington University, professor Pimomo, who chaired the session, also urged upon the North East people to be united and to begin an informed conversation across the board on the pressing issue at hand.