• Konyak organizations demand justice for Oting killings without delay
• To allow Army investigation at incident site but without guns & uniforms
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (MExN): The Konyak Civil Society Organisations have demanded justice for the victims of the Oting killings without delay, while stating that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
The Konyak CSOs informed that they will be compelled to convene an all Konyak Summit on January 18, 2022 to discuss further course of action if justice is delayed.
A joint statement from the KU, KNSK and KSU appreciated the concern shown by the Union Home Ministry and the initiatives made by the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy CM Y Patton and NPF Legislature Party Leader TR Zeliang.
However, the organizations expressed concern that there were no delegates from ground zero while meeting with the Union Home Minister to authenticate and portray the real incidents/stories about the Oting massacre.
It further lamented that no person from ground zero was included in the enquiry committee constituted for repealing AFSPA. The Konyak CSOs opined that only citizens from ground zero would be able to “portray the untold sufferings of the civilians for so many decades under AFSPA.”
The Konyak CSOs appealed to the members of the committee to consider the value of humanity on utmost priority while framing its recommendation report. “Human rights and value had been ignored and neglected for so many decades and under such circumstances, so many violations and atrocities have been inflicted upon. So many untold miseries and pain had been shouldered till date. Those members in the assigned committee should also be aware that people at ground zero have had enough of AFSPA,” they stated.
Meanwhile, the organizations sought clarification from the Indian Army regarding its press release wherein the latter assured “justice for all.” They termed the phrase as a “biased assurance but confusing at the same time while the Konyaks are demanding for direct action against those Indian Army personnel that had massacred those 14 innocent Konyak youths.” They demanded that the Indian Army clarify its “actual stance” on the Oting massacre.
They further said that mere replacement of the Indian armed forces from Mon district will make no difference to the long impending sufferings of the people of Mon district. The Konyak CSOs declared that “it requires no security who fail to provide security to its citizen.”
“Instead, the people of the region had faced the brunt for so many decades. The people of the land had enough of it; when the villages and the granaries were totally burned down, people were forced to starve, our sisters were raped and our innocent brothers were killed brutally without any premeditated interventions,” they added.
They meanwhile informed that the Konyak CSOs will allow the Army investigation at ground zero but “without uniforms and guns.” The organizations requested the state security to depute necessary arrangements and protocols for smooth conduct of the inquiry committee.
The Konyak CSOs further questioned the State Government as to why the Tiru Police Outpost Station has still not been manned, despite the 5 days ultimatum to do so.
They reiterated that the CSOs would not rest until those involved in killing the civilians are booked under applicable civil court and the action taken report is brought before the public domain within the penultimate timeframe which expires on January 10, 2022.
