Expressing deep anguish over the Oting massacre on December 4, Zeliang Students Union Nagaland (ZLSU) has strongly demanded for repeal of Armed Force (Special Power) Act, 1958 (AFSPA).
In a press release, ZLSU president Kingsalt Hegwang and general secretary, Sanlakbo Namdau condemned “the most despicable action of the Indian security personnel who targeted the innocent civilians in the most unprofessional manner.” It also condemned the “political leaders, some media houses, individuals and organisations who resorted to twisting the incident in favour of the armed forces without ascertaining the actual facts from the ground”. Appealing to the centre and the state government to ensure speedy justice to the victims without fear and favour, ZLSU said it was more than obvious that AFSPA had been “a wicked tool for the many unrighteous officers and jawans” to unleash terror among the citizens of North East India. It stated that many more instances of human rights abuse had gone unreported and those reported “never saw the light of justice for the innocent victims, all under the suppression of AFSPA”.
“AFSPA has done more damage than good to the image of the Indian armed forces and is a complete failure to control the so-called insurgent movements in the North East”, the union stated. While stating that it had alienated the people of the region “from joining the mainstream and had been a factor for many affected youth to join the opposing forces”, the union said that the Nagas yearned to live in peace and progress “in the mainstream” like any other progressive society in other parts of world, “yet under the guise of AFSPA, the Indian armed forces had been pushing us back, time and again”.
ZLSU demanded immediate removal of AFSPA which it said would also ensure justice to the victims of its Konyak Naga brethren who were killed with no rhyme and reason. “Under the regime of AFSPA, it is a matter of fact that justice will never be delivered as in the past many incidences of human rights violation in our land by the armed forces”, it further stated.