AFSPA Extension Breeds Mistrust
Once again, the government of India has extended the AFSPA, 1958, in nine districts and 21 police stations across five other districts in Nagaland
- Once again, the government of India has extended the Armed
Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, in nine districts and 21 police
stations across five other districts in Nagaland for six more months starting
from April 1. By declaring the state as a “disturbed area”, the centre has made
it clear that it still believes the state is vulnerable to law and order issues
and that the draconian law is required to maintain public order. On one hand,
the central government is claiming that it is on the verge of ending the
insurgency issue in the Northeast, citing a substantial decrease in violent
incidents, security personnel casualties and civilian deaths since the BJP-led
alliance came to power in 2014. It has also stated that a series of agreements
have been signed with various insurgency groups over the years, reflecting the
government's efforts to bring peace to the region. But on the other hand, by
extending the controversial law, the centre has sent out a contradictory
message to the world about the law and order situation in this part of the
country. It reflects mistrust.
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- Well, Nagaland has come a long way from decades of violence
and bloodshed caused by frequent gun battles between the Naga political groups
and the Indian army and between the insurgency groups as well. If there is any
semblance of peace in the state today, we should not forget that it’s a
hard-earned one, an outcome of unrelenting peace efforts by the Naga civil
organisations, particularly the Naga Mothers' Association (NMA). The signing of
a ceasefire agreement between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) in
1997, followed by similar moves with other factions, was another turning point
in curbing bloodshed in the region. Today, central leaders who visit the state
take pride in mentioning the improved law and order situation alongside the
developmental projects the incumbent government has initiated. The state police
have also highlighted the consistent decline in violent incidents between the
armed groups. So, it is only fair for the public to expect the centre to
reciprocate this positive development by revoking the AFSPA, which gives
security forces the sweeping power to search, arrest and open fire against any
person, even to the extent of causing death, if they deem it necessary. The
public doesn’t want another Oting incident where several innocent civilians
were killed in a botched ambush in 2021. Justice is yet to be served to the
victims, and it is unlikely, as the centre has denied sanction to prosecute the
30 Army personnel allegedly involved in the killing, thanks to AFSPA. Instead
of reciprocating to gains made from years of peace efforts, the centre has
ended up breaking the trust of the Nagas through its recent moves – extension
of AFSPA, scrapping of the Free Movement Regime and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar
border. Such moves will only create mistrust.
