NSF, JD (U) Nagaland condemn extension of AFSPA
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 2 (MExN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) has vehemently condemned and denounced the recent Government of India notification declaring the whole state of Nagaland a disturbed area thereby extending the operation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state for another six months.
A press note from the NSF said it is “appalled that a peaceful state like Nagaland is painted a picture of chaos and lawlessness by the aforementioned notification, as the world at large is witness to the fact that Nagaland is not what it is made to look like by the ill intended notification of the central government.”
“The federation is uncompromisingly of the opinion that the extension of AFSPA is not for the maintanence of law and order in the state but only a diabolic attempt of the central government to further the suppression of the Naga people through militarization by encouraging the numerous abuses and serious human rights violations by the armed forces which has been ongoing over many years,” the NSF stated.
It further questioned the “overarching approach of the central government in extending the inhumane Act as 'Law & Order' is the subject matter of the state government.”
The NSF reiterated that the AFSPA is “violative of the constitution as it infringes upon the various fundamental rights of the citizens and that the bad law must be repealed altogether.”
It meanwhile asked the central government to realize that India is a democracy in which the armed forces are supposed to be subject to civilian control and added that “abuses by the armed forces while being shielded by AFSPA only fuel public anger, permitting militant groups to flourish and putting soldiers at greater risk.”
The Janata Dal (United), Nagaland also condemned the extension of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in the whole of Nagaland for another period of six months.
A press release from the JD (U) Nagaland president, NSN Senchumo Lotha and general secretary, Kitoho S Rotokha said that with the extension of AFSPA, the “GoI has exposed its insincerity in dealing with Naga issue which it had promised to resolved within 3 months.” It urged all “right thinking citizens to condemn and oppose the imposition of draconian laws towards innocent and peaceful people.”
The party meanwhile extended New Year greetings to the people of the state and hoped for peace, love and prosperity in 2020.
