SHILLONG, Jan 2: The Congress and the United Democratic Party (UDP) on Sunday questioned the Centre’s decision to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in Nagaland.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh the decision was very disturbing as the AFSPA had been a factor behind the killing of 14 civilians in Nagaland’s Mon district that was fresh in the minds.
“The Centre continues to ignore the loud voices calling for the repeal of this draconic Act. Leaders of the north-eastern region now have to unite on this common agenda, in the interest of the states suffering atrocities in the name of national security,” Lyngdoh said.
Echoing similar views, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said the AFSPA should be repealed.
“Real security of the people can be ensured only when there is complete trust in the security forces. Militancy in the Northeast is waning. Steps should be taken for a people-centric approach in dealing with insurgency. Innocent civilians should not be the sufferers,” he said.
He added that his party does not want the Northeast to continue to be a killing field.
Mawthoh said the small ethnic communities in the Northeast are by and large peace-loving. “Fighting for their rights to safeguard their identity and culture should not be misconstrued as secession. We are also part and parcel of this great nation and we want our rights to be respected,” he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the AFSPA can be repealed even though it was extended in Nagaland for another six months.
The chief ministers of some of the north-eastern states had called for repealing the AFSPA after 13 civilians were killed in a botched Army operation near Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4. Another civilian was killed the following day in reactionary violence.
The Centre constituted a high-level committee to examine the possibility of the withdrawal of the controversial Act from the state. But on December 30, the whole of Nagaland was declared as a “disturbed area” resulting in the extension of the AFSPA for six months.
