Kohima, Jan 12: A two-day march called by the various Naga organisations demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and justice for the victims of last December’s firing incidents in Mon district, has culminated in the state capital with a call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help initiate the process of justice and of righting past wrongs.
The “March against AFSPA”, a two-day walkathon from Dimapur to Kohima covering about 70 km, ended here on Tuesday evening.
Submitting a memorandum to Modi, through the Nagaland Governor, the marchers representing Global Naga Forum, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Mothers’ Association, Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Dimapur and Konyak Union Dimapur, claimed their protest programme was a “success”.
Addressing a meeting close to the Raj Bhavan, the Convener, Global Naga Forum, Chuba Ozukum said the movement is led by the Naga public, and not by any organisation.
“This is the movement of the Naga people and there is no leader in the protest walkathon. The one who came walking from Dimapur till Kohima, every participant, you are the leader,” said Ozukum.
Advisor of Naga Mother Association Rosemary Dzuvichu said Naga people have raised their voice against the killing of the sons of the Nagas in Oting, and also for the death of many others over the decades.
While 13 villagers including six daily wage labourers of a colliery died in two separate incidents of firing between Tiru and Oting village under Tizit sub-division on December 4 last, another villager taking part in a violent protest a day later against the incidents was killed in a fresh round of firing by the forces. A soldier also was killed. The security forces were said to be looking for suspected underground cadres of the NSCN(K) based on “credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents”.
The coordinator of the walkathon Kevitho Kera remarked that Nagas were pursuing a non-violent path to demand justice. Kero said it was a true example of Christianity and what Jesus Christ had taught His followers to be and “we have displayed it in the best way possible”.
The signatories to the memorandum demanded prosecution of the perpetrators of the massacre under a civil court, and immediate and adequate compensation to families of the victims and the injured.
Calling for withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland, the memorandum demanded that cognisance must be taken of “past atrocities and excesses committed by armed forces” and adequate compensation be given to victims or to their nearest Kin.
Copies of the memorandum were sent to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda.
