Friday, March 29, 2024
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Are tribal lives expendable?

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By Barnes Mawri

The tragic incident in the village of Oting in Mon district of Nagaland on 4th December where 14 civilians were murdered in cold blood by the Indian Army personnel, is a clear indication of the abuse of AFSPA. This draconian law empowers the armed forces to use violence or even kill persons with impunity on any mere suspicion that they are militants/insurgents. It is an uncivilized law that is seen only in the 007 James Bond movies where such “license to kill” mandate exists. We have seen too many abuses of AFSPA in the many similar incidents be it in Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya or elsewhere where this law applies. The fact that the army personnel opened fire on a group of miners merely on grounds of suspicion that they were militants, does not excuse them from being branded criminals. It would be an excusable act if those people were terrorists from Pakistan, Bangladesh or China. But to be aware that these people were our own citizens, there would be no reason for the army to act so brutally when the victims were not even armed. Definitely the army which is stationed there for years, is aware that there are coal mine workers in the area. So how could their intelligence be so faulty as not to be able to identify the same persons who used to go back and forth to the mines day in and day out. This proves that there are trigger-happy army personnel who are ever ready to open fire on even innocent people. They could do it without any fear of retribution because AFSPA guarantees their impunity before the law. Is this not a dangerous law that ought to be scrapped off or else murderous acts like this will be committed again and again? It is very simple for the army to say that it was a “mistaken identity” issue, but that does not bring back to life the 13 slain innocent persons. This excuse will not be able to console the bereaved families. We have heard ad nauseam this phrase from the army authorities that it has become a hypocritical statement that no one believes it anymore. The loss of human lives can never be compensated by thousands of excuses not even by any amount of material compensation.
The known fact that the guilty army personnel were trying to carry away the bodies in a pick-up in order to dispose of the bodies and hide evidences, is even a greater criminal act that is not befitting the so called “guardians of the country.” Had not the villagers discovered this evil intention and acted thereupon, perhaps the culprits would have passed off as innocent persons. The confrontation however led to seven more civilian deaths because the trigger-happy army trained their rifles on the unarmed villagers who were trying to stop the vehicle that was trying to speed away with the dead bodies of the six civilians. This incident has alarmed every tribal community in Northeast India. I, as a member of the Khasi community, first of all condemn this dastardly act and I join the Naga people in their demand to abrogate the AFSPA at the earliest. Tribal communities are peace loving and we revere life in every form. AFSPA is a law of the uncivilized because it promotes a “wild west” existence. Probably it is the imposition of this law and its abuse by the army personnel every now and then, that has angered many tribal youth and encouraged them to take up arms as militants. I will not be surprised if more Naga youth join the militant outfits because such unpunished criminal acts against an innocent community can only fan feelings of vengeance against the perpetrators.
It is evident that AFSPA is doing more harm than good in the country. To know that AFSPA which came into effect in 1958, operates especially in the tribal states of Northeast India, is all the more reason to condemn it as it creates more insecurity and endangers the peaceful existence of tribal communities. How many innocent tribal people have fallen victims to AFSPA without however getting any justice as the law itself denies it? It is unfortunate that the Home Minister and the Defense Minister have not yet expressed apologies to the victims’ families in spite of the popular demand of the Naga people.
As usual an investigation will be conducted which most probably will extend into years until finally the aggrieved party will have got exhausted from waiting for justice. That is the sort of ending of such cases in our country. It is time that all tribal leaders of Northeast India stand together and demand for the immediate abrogation of AFSPA. We can no longer allow this draconian law to claim more innocent lives of our tribal people. Enough is enough, away with AFSPA.

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