DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 10 (MExN): As the Konyak community entered the fourth day of its ‘Week of Mourning,’ Konyak civil society organizations today condemned the military intelligence agency(s) who “deliberately misinformed the Central Government and tarnished the entire episode of that particular incident of the December 4 Oting massacre.”
A joint statement from the KU, KSU and KNSK demanded that the Government of India and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) book the person(s) responsible for the “intelligence negligence” and to award befitting punishment applicable as per the law.
It further appealed to the all the Chief Ministers, Students’ and Youth Organizations of the North Eastern States affected by the AFSPA 1958 to stand for the cause of fighting against this draconian law, “which has been in place and is hampering the peace of the region.” “We urge all the Governments and Civil Societies alike to shoulder together to repeal and revoke this AFSPA, 1958 which has hidden the sorrow of our land after the military occupation,” the organizations stated.
It meanwhile clarified that the restrictions put in place on from certain media channels “were made owing to various misinterpretation of the factual news and for politicizing it.” “However, the media, being the voice and tools in delivering justice to the people, we urge the media not to misinform and politicize but to relay the truth to the rest of the country and the world,” the organizations urged.
The KU, KSU and KNSK informed that Konyak civil societies will be meeting with all the victims’ families at Oting, Jakphang and Chi Villages on December 11. They invited the local media and press fraternities for a press conference on December 11 from 12:00 noon onwards at the Konyak Union office “in order to give clear-cut information of the series of events that unfolded during that tragic incident.”
They further appealed to the Deputy Commissioner, Mon for immediate allocation of site for the construction of a “Genocide Memorial Park at the AR Camp, Mon Hq for the Oting and Mon Town Massacre.”
Finally, the organizations urged the SIT to do fair and free investigation and present its report before December 25. “We believe that our Christmas will be celebrated with justice being delivered so as to pave way for a peaceful atmosphere during our celebration and our lives ahead,” they added.
