Dimapur, August 2 (MExN): Arms Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was imposed on the north-eastern states of India September 11, 1958 and since then many NGOs, human rights activists have been appealing the government to withdraw the Act from the region. However, the Convenor of North East Dialogue Forum Nagaland unit WC Humtsoe said that Nagas have lukewarm attitude towards the very Act because Nagas have not gone through the real twinge of the Act unlike other NE States.
He said AFSPA is “like a ghost story for Nagas”, adding that people talk about ghost but it is only few who experience it. He challenged the gathering that being silent will not help. “Silence is also amounting to accepting the Act,” he opined.
Humtsoe said that while addressing the gathering at Consultation on Human Rights and Arms Force Special power Act held today, at CCT Training Complex in Dimapur. The discourse was organised by Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre in collaboration with North East Dialogue Forum.
Also, the Convenor of North East Dialogue Forum U Nobokishore said AFSPA is needed only when government fails to protect the people or cannot handle the law and order in the State, stating that it gives right to the Arm Force to “oppress innocent civilians”.
Concerning the attitude of GOI, he said the government cannot give a concrete proof on why the act was imposed; adding that they might say it is because of insurgency problems in the region but the actual reason are not answered because the Act can do nothing to these insurgency groups except violating the human rights of innocent civilians.
The Convenor also said that because of AFSPA, “we are not protected, we have no rights.” He challenged the gathering that if they write a memorandum to the government to revoke the Act, the response from the government will be lukewarm.
The North East Dialogue Forum in a bid to educate people about the Act had conducted such discourse at Imphal and Agartala. The convenor disclosed that by end of this month consultations on AFSPA will be conducted at Shillong and Guwahati. Also, a national level consultation will be held on August 20 and 21 at New Delhi, where former Home Secretary of India GK Pillai has consented to attend the meet.
He further said that the forum has written to Eastern Army Command to conduct a discourse on AFSPA by inviting intellectuals from renowned universities. In September the Forum will be submitting a report to United Nations. Moreover, he said the forum is seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister this week to discuss the issue.
Today, the meet was attended by various leaders of Naga organisations, where several leaders expressed their views about the Act.
