Following the Union Home Ministry’s notification declaring Nagaland as “disturbed area” for another six months with effect from December 30, a mass public march against imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been scheduled on January 10.
Informing this to Nagaland Post, Kevitho Kera, who is one of the organizers, said that citizens would gather at 4th Mile junction at 6 a.m. that day and march all the way to Kohima, where they would submit a memorandum to Nagaland governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi against the Act.
He said the participants would spend the night at Piphema before starting the march the following morning for the State Capital.
Kera clarified that no political party or organisation was involved in the planned march, adding that the public has had enough with false promises. “Public will now the lead the movement for peace,” he remarked.
Asked out public response so far, Kera said they have received support from many individuals confirming their participation, adding that students from a theological college would also be joining the march.
Mentioning that he expected participation of a large number of youth in the march, Kera appealed to all right-thinking citizens, irrespective of tribes or communities or political affiliations, to join the march.
Further asked whether the march would be called off if the recently-formed committee to repeal AFSPA notifies partial withdrawal of AFSPA from the State, Kera asserted that the public would not be satisfied with partial repeal and demanded its full withdrawal.
He assured that the march would be peaceful and “apolitical” voice against AFSPA led by the public.