AFSPA row back, Naga CM for repeal

Agitated Rio says security forces have created a law and order problem

Kohima/ Shillong: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio demanded repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) at a poignant funeral service for the 14 civilians. An agitated Rio, speaking at the funeral service at Mon district headquarters, said, “AFSPA gives powers to the Army to arrest civilians without any arrest warrant, raid houses and also kill people. But there is no action against the security forces. They have created a law and order situation.” Similarly, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 should be repealed as he joined the growing chorus for withdrawal of the law amid the civilian killings in Nagaland. Civil society groups, rights activists and political leaders of the Northeast region have been demanding the withdrawal of the “draconian” law for years, alleging excesses by security forces with impunity under the cover of the Act.

AFSPA confers special powers to the armed forces in areas deemed as disturbed. “AFSPA should be repealed,” tweeted Sangma, whose NPP is an ally of the BJP. The state Congress also supported the chief minister, urging him to convene a meeting for consultation over the issue. “We must go all out to demand immediate repeal of this draconian oppression on our people. Kindly convene a consultation at the earliest,” Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh tweeted in reply to Sangma.

The AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council area), Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang, Longding, Tirap districts and areas falling within the eight police stations at the Assam border.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HNYC) also demanded that the AFSPA be withdrawn for building a peaceful Northeast. “We call upon the Government of India to rein in their Armed Forces if they really wish the peace to prevail in the Region as incidents like these will only bring instability, which is not a good sign for the region as a whole,” HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem demanded.

Voicing concern, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) said the government should formulate laws to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people. -(PTI)

Peaceful shutdown

A six-hour shutdown called by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Monday, meanwhile, passed off peacefully, barring minor skirmishes between students and security forces. NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and general secretary Siipuni Ng. Philo said, “The sole purpose of this bandh was to display our grief, our anger and our sentiments ... Naga people are free people and we have every right to defend what we have.”