Dimapur, December 27 (MExN): A song titled ‘Just A Smile Will Do’ dedicated to the memory of the precious lives lost at the Oting and Mon incident on December 4 and 5 was recently released.
“Heartbreaking and painful two words that continue to echo in our souls following the shocking human rights violations and killings at Oting on December 4 and subsequent fallout the next day. ‘Just A Smile Will Do’ is an original music video dedicated to the memory of the precious lives lost as a result of this brutal massacre by the soldiers of the Indian Army under the protection of the draconian law AFSPA – 1958,” stated a press release received here.
The music and composition of ‘Just A Smile Will Do’ was done by Arep while on the lead vocal is Zaza with accompaniment on Tenor and Alto by Arep and Athili. Others in the production include, Akok Imsong on keyboards/strings, Atsa on guitar and recording, mixed and mastered by Kibu, video by Toshi Longchar, and filmed and recorded at Ozuki Studio.
According to the artists, “With this song we want to reach out to the mourning and bereaved with the message that the entire world has witnessed the ugly side of a country that prides itself as the largest democracy in the world while unleashing armed attacks upon unarmed civilians. This reflects an authoritarian and occupational mindset focusing on territorial integration rather than emotional integration.”
When there is an ongoing universal debate on capital punishment even for the highest of crimes based on the premise that life and death rests solely in the hands of the Almighty, shooting down innocent civilians and passing off the incident as a case of mistaken identity is gross and totally unacceptable, they stated.
“We cannot bring back the dead, but the guilty and trigger happy must be punished. And the government of India can prevent the same from happening again by repealing AFSPA. The army should also be relieved from policing duties if India considers Nagaland a part and parcel of the country,” they added.
