Kezhokhoto Savi
Kohima
Every year December 10 is observed as International Human Rights Day to bring the attention of the peoples of the world that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renowned effort in the protection and promotion of human rights. And on this day the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The day is observed via high-level political conference and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights values to enhance public awareness of people’s social, cultural, and physical rights, as well as to ensure everyone’s well-being.
However, for the state of Nagaland we are deeply in a mourning period over the several precious innocent lives mercilessly gunned down by the Para Military Security Forces on December 4 at Oting village under Mon district, Nagaland whose ‘Human Rights’ were violated in the highest degree where human being can’t even imagine in a democratic country so called India and a signatory to Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ongoing “Hornbill Festival 2021” is being cancelled for the remaining which was supposed to celebrate till December 10. And therefore, I sincerely voiced it out to the nation and the world to restore our human rights despite of the existence of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 imposed upon the state by the Central Government. Promoting human rights is one of the core purposes of the United Nations. And the core purpose of the United Nations was deliberately failing as Nagaland state could not constitute a State Human Rights Commission till date. Human Rights are fundamental to our every existence without which we cannot live as human being. To protect human rights is to ensure that people receive some degree of decent, human treatment. Slavery, poverty, physical torture, destruction of property, rape, killing, hunger, sex exploitation, forced labour, child labour, commercial sex exploitation, illiteracy, etc. are against human rights. As indigenous people of the land, Article 371A of the constitution of India provides a special provision giving the Naga people rights to protect their own way of life, its land and resources.
This year the theme for International Human Rights Day is – “EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights” and it relates to ‘EQUALITY’ and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. And on this day, the United Nations, call on countries to create equal opportunity for all people and to address issues of inequality, exclusion and discrimination. United Nations says that Human Rights should be at the center of the post-COVID-19 world. The pandemic wreaked havoc on everyone, and the resulting crises fuelled poverty, inequality, and discrimination. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, we must take steps to close these gaps in order to rebuild a world that is better, more resilient, and even more sustainable.
“Are the people of Nagaland literate enough on human rights and are they able to stand for their own rights and give due respect to the rights of others? The answer was ‘NO’ and the serious concern was that there was an urgent need to programme a vigorous defence and promotion of human rights. The educational institutions, colleges and churches are to play an active role in promoting peace, justice and social transformation. Besides the rest of the country, Nagaland is an example of being a slaughter house of human rights. Atrocities on women at home and workplace, insurgency, problems of drugs, rape, alcoholism among youths and adults, child abuse and flesh trade, extortion, anti-Indian mentality, delay in receiving justice and growth of non-humanitarian values are dear indication of violation of human rights, which have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility of the State. One of the main problems faced by the citizens of this state is the existence of the Central Government imposing the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958, amended in 1972. While I assert this extra power given in Act is being misused by the armed forces and has caused too much harm to the civilians. A major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act of 1958 widely seen in the Nagaland as ‘draconian’. However, knowledge about human rights is not popular among the citizens of Nagaland. As a result, violation of human rights is so common in Nagaland that the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is defeated considerable number of times.
Nagaland is being shown to the world as an example of a slaughter house of human rights. As far as the general ‘Human Rights’ scenario in Nagaland is concern, within a span of few years, several army atrocities and barbaric killing took place in Nagaland, such as the merciless gunned down of several Oting villagers, Dist – Mon by the Para Military Security Forces on December 4 and several other army atrocities in Kohima, Mokokchung, Imphal, etc, three persons were killed by unidentified assailants on March 22, 2021 including burning of two vehicles where two bodies were recovered near one of the burnt vehicles, murder of nine persons whose bodies were recovered by Nagaland Police at Pachaspura near Chümoukedima on 3rd Jan, 2014, the barbaric attempt to murder on a young boy (student) on December 28, 2013 who later succumbed to his injuries, December 21, 2013 incident where the passengers of a Zunheboto bound taxi were assaulted and injured, several rape cases including minor took place, the atrocities meted to the Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong from December 25, 2013 evening onwards where several women and children were mercilessly killed, thousands were displaced and kept in several relief camps, villages burnt, properties such as agricultural products and crops were destroyed. The March 5, 2015 incident where a young man was lynched by a mob and the dead body was tied to the railing in Dimapur, Nagaland. In a police firing on January 31, 2017 two youth were killed in Dimapur and several of them were injured in Longleng while protesting against ULB election in Nagaland. In regard to child labour “Poverty is the main reason for families to send their children to work”. Children’s rights are human rights. Children are no doubt supreme assets of the country. “Child is the father of man”. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a great human rights activist who strongly believed and practiced non-violence. One of the great American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was a man who had sacrificed his life for the abolition of slavery. Nelson Mandela was one of the great symbols of human rights of our time whose life was committed to human dignity, equality, freedom & justice. And Nelson Mandela once said – “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their community”.
The writer is an Advocate Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, Assistant Professor Kohima Law College and also a recipient of National Award.
