Dimapur, October 28: The Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) have denounced a number of incidents over the recent past including the shootout in Wokha between security forces and an NSCN faction, and the occupation of a church in Wokha by security forces, besides the assassination attempt on the life of an NNC / NNC/GDRN leader.
The CNSA and the ENPO issued separate press releases on Friday.
In their statement, the CNSA vehemently condemned the October 23 fire fight near Okotso village under Wokha district. The students called it a total violation of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and ‘Naga political groups.’
“The CNSA would like to state that the menace indulged by the 28 Assam Rifles is high handedness and barbaric and has created a vacuum 0f hostility and havoc among the peace loving Naga people,” the press release stated.
“CNSA assumed that the attack was totally pre-planned by the 28 Assam Rifles to disturb the peace process when ceasing fire still exists between the government of India and NPGs. Further, the CNSA would like to state that when the Naga political problem is on the stage of finding an amicable solution why the so-called ‘Friends of the Hills People’ Assam Rifles fail to honour the cease-fire agreement laid down rules and continues to murder the human rights and disturb peaceful environment causing fear of psychosis among the people.”
In this regard, the CNSA asked the government of India to revoke the draconic law Armed Forces Special Power Acts (AFSPA) in Nagaland “when Nagas are longing for an amicable solution after decades of confrontation for the Naga political problem.”The association added: “Nevertheless, The CNSA is of the view that if the Indian Army time and again plays their hypocritical attitude to maintain their military muscle in the name of AFSPA and ceasefire agreement as tools for maintaining Security in the region then it is high time for the NPGs to retrospect and introspect and abrogate the cease fire and fight against the occupational forces.”
The CNSA also condemned the reported forceful occupation of Mekokla Baptist church by the 28th Assam Rifles.
“The CNSA would like to state that the attitude shown by the Indian army has deeply hurt the religious sentiment of the Naga people and term this act as an infringement against the Christianity,” the organization stated.
The CNSA has urged the Nagaland government to take up the matter seriously with the Indian army and the ceasefire monitoring board to ensure that such actions does not occur in the future.
ENPO
The ENPO also expressed pain at the incident. A press release from the organization on Friday called the matter ‘extremely unfortunate and regrettable.’
“At a time when the efforts to bring about consensus understanding between the various Naga political groups and the government of India, the incident is extremely unfortunate and regrettable. The ENPO equally appeals for restraint to both the security forces and cadres of the Naga political groups in the interest of public peace and harmony,” the note stated.
“Such needless assault by the security forces must be avoided at all cost and adhere to the norms of ground rules and realities in future.”
Further, the ENPO expressed revulsion at the reported forceful occupation of a church by the security forces at Mekokla village. Such an act is unconstitutional, the organization stated in condemnation.
“It is an assault on the democratic and secular fabric of the country, and those responsible must be made answerable before the law.”
Another matter that the ENPO raised was the reported assassination attempt on the life of Kiumakum Yimchunger, a senior functionary of the NNC/GDRN.
“At the given social and political situation amongst the Naga family where no two tribes or groups can honestly sit and resolve differences, intolerance and violence will only lead the Naga family in the further chaos, misunderstanding and crises,” the ENPO stated.
“All forms of violence and specially political violence must be honestly and prayerfully uprooted. We condemn violence of any form and appeal for restraint in the interest of a lasting peace.”
