Different organisations condemn alleged drone attack in Khammoi village

DIMAPUR — Different organisations have condemned the alleged drone strike reportedly carried out by the Indian Armed Forces on the Naga village of Khammoi (Khenmoi-Loiyi) under the East Konyak Region in Myanmar on October 20, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.

Global Naga Forum: According to the GNF, the strike, which occurred around 6:30 pm Indian time (7:30 pm Myanmar time), killed two civilians — seven-year-old Grade-1 student Late Eli Phiphot Wangsa of Khammoi Mission School and Late Khampei Wangsa, 27, joint secretary of the Khammoi Students’ Union. Several others, including children, elderly women, and men, were also injured.

GNF stated that the attack amounted to a gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. It described the incident as “cowardly and inhumane”, asserting that this was the second drone strike on a Naga village this year, indicating what it termed as a deliberate targeting of Naga civilians beyond the “imposed boundary”.

The forum pointed out that the attack took place on Naga ancestral land, not deep inside Myanmar, and expressed concern over what it described as the silence of the Myanmar government. “Its silence reveals a harsh truth that because we are Nagas and not ethnic Burmese, our lives are treated with indifference,” it said.

GNF recalled that a similar cross-border attack had been carried out on September 27, 2017, by the Indian Army inside Naga areas of Myanmar, saying that the latest incident reinforced a “pattern of impunity and disregard for Naga lives”.

Also read: NSCN (YA) condemns ‘Indian drone attacks’ in eastern Konyak region

The forum called upon the United Nations and international human rights bodies to take cognisance of the drone strike and hold the government of India accountable for violations of international law. It urged the Myanmar government to “break its silence” and take a stand on the violation of its territorial integrity and the killing of civilians.

It further appealed to human rights defenders, democratic governments, and civil society groups to support an independent international investigation into the October 20 strike and other cross-border incidents.

GNF also called on the Indian government to end what it described as military aggression against civilians and to respect the rights, dignity, and existence of the Naga people.

Extending condolences to the bereaved families and those injured, GNF said it stands in solidarity with the Khammoi village community. It denounced the attack as an unjustifiable act of state violence and demanded truth, accountability, and justice.

Naga People’s Front: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed deep concern over the reported incident where Indian Armed Forces allegedly carried out an operation targeting the residence of a senior NSCN-K (YA) leader.

The NPF in a statement, conveyed sadness over the loss of lives and the distress caused to the affected families and communities.

Emphasising the sensitivity of the border region and its close-knit human ties across both sides, the NPF stated that such incidents require careful examination to prevent further tension or misunderstanding.

It urged the authorities concerned to take due cognisance of the situation and ensure that peace, stability, and humanitarian considerations are upheld at all times.

Konyak civil society organisations: The Konyak civil society organisations (KCSO) have strongly condemned what they termed an “inhuman and barbaric drone attack” allegedly carried out by the Indian security forces.

According to a condemnation note issued by the Konyak Union on behalf of the organisations, the attack took place in a public area and resulted in the death of a six-year-old girl and a young man, while five others sustained severe injuries.

Describing the incident as “a deliberate act of genocide against the Konyak people living in Burma”, the KCSO stated that such barbaric and unprovoked violence against innocent civilians, including children, violated international human rights laws and constituted a heinous crime against humanity.

It added that the deliberate targeting of defenceless civilians under any pretext is indefensible, inhumane, and demonstrates an utter disregard for human life and dignity.

They called upon all right-thinking citizens and organisations to condemn such acts and appealed to national and international human rights bodies to take serious cognisance of this brutal assault and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated in the future.

The KCSO also acknowledged the Medical department, headed by the CMO, MS, and DPO (UIP&RCH), and the Red Cross Society, Mon district, for their prompt humanitarian response to the union’s call by providing medicines, medical kits, and ambulance services for transporting the victims from Longwa village to District Hospital Mon. Medical supplies have also been dispatched to Khammoi village for the treatment and recovery of the injured.

Expressing condolences, the CSOs conveyed deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. It reiterated that the Konyak Union stands firm in defending the rights, dignity, and safety of its people against any form of aggression or oppression.

Eastern Konyak Union, others: In a related statement, the Eastern Konyak Union, the Khammoi Village Council, and the Khammoi Students’ Union also condemned the alleged drone attack.

It asserted that the victims were civilians and that the attack “bombarded area houses burnt into ashes completely” and caused destruction “due to explosion of poisonous gas”.

The Eastern Konyak Union urged human rights organisations to bring justice to such terrorist acts in the civilian domain. It also urged India, a democratic country, to halt attacks on civilian villages using such sophisticated weapons.

Citing reports received from the Khammoi Students’ Union President Khampei Ranwang, it said that the incident occurred when drones were allegedly launched from the Khonsa side in Arunachal Pradesh. The statement claimed that the drones, without any signal, were directly dropped from the sky into the village, causing panic and destruction. Houses were burnt to ashes within seconds, and the villagers were thrown into deep fear and psychosis.

The Eastern Konyak Union, along with the Khammoi Village Council and Students’ Union, strongly condemned the incident and urged the Indian Security Forces to distinguish between innocent civilian areas and underground locations. It stated that such military actions by a powerful country against innocent villages are unlawful.

The statement added that a village is not an underground camp and that even if such elements are found, the security forces should show compassion towards innocent lives. It stated that every Indian Army personnel also belongs to a village, has a home, family, and relatives, and therefore should not attack civilian houses. The statement described the act as cowardly and said that the army should retaliate only with armed men, not by targeting civilians and minor children.

They appealed to all right-thinking and civilised societies, including the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights and Nagas Without Borders, to question whether the Indian Army’s dropping of drones in public places is lawful or unlawful. It noted that India, being a member of the United Nations Organisation and a signatory to the Human Rights Declaration on December 10, 1948, should uphold human rights principles. It added that such activities reflect a terrorism mentality, which is not acceptable under human rights articles.

The statement appealed to the Indian government to cease harassment activities against innocent civilians and to reconsider military actions in public village areas on humanitarian grounds. It asserted that all human beings on earth have human rights.

The Eastern Konyak Union expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed that God may grant them comfort during their mourning and healing to those injured.