Dimapur, Dec. 10: Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) observed International Human Rights Day, on December 10.
NPMHR: Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights(NPMHR) observed the 68thInterntional Human rights under the theme “Stand up for someone’s rights today,” at De Oriental Grande, Kohima.
NPMHR expressed its solidarity to all the human rights defenders around the world in proclaiming that; “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. It also strongly believes that mankind has made history through the struggle for freedom from exploitation and subjugation and history of the Naga people has taught them that there are forces both inside and outside the society collaborating in strangulating social progress.
Secretary general of NPMHR, NeinguloKrome, said one of the deeper concerns that human rights movements and defenders are now faced with in today’s contemporary world is the increasing shrinking space of democracy everywhere. He also said the recent arrest and detention of human rights defenders, such as the leaders of the United Naga Council’s president,Gaidon Kamei and its publicity secretary, S. K. Stephen, by Manipur police is another grave example of shrinking space of democracy and the growing intolerance of states against democratic expressions of its citizens. This case also demonstrate the lack of political will by the Government of India to respect the rights of Naga Indigenous People which is also against the spirit of the various Peace Agreements entered with the various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and the Government of India,Krome stated.
He mentioned that draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act remains in place in many parts of North East India resulting to gross violations of human rights with impunity. He said the shrinking democratic space for human rights defenders is a continuing threat and looms over indigenous peoples’ fight for their ancestral lands and against injustices.
Citing the cases of violation rights of indigenous woman activist from Malaysia, Chong activist of Cambodia, Venn Vorn and cases in Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kelantan etc, Krome said in all these regards, NPMHR stands with AIPP in commemorating and paying rich tributes to all the indigenous human rights defenders, including women, who were viciously silenced.
He further added that NPMHR with AIPP saluted those who continue to fight for their fundamental and collective rights despite the ominous and imminent danger.
NVCO:Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) observes the International Human Rights Day in Kohima, bringing the attention of the people of the world that the universal declaration of Human Rights is the common standard of achievement for all people and all nations.
Speaking on the occasion, president of NVCO,KezhokhotoSavi said human rights are a natural right and are not earned and cannot be denied on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity or gender. He also said human rights are fundamental to every existence without which we cannot live as human beings.
To protect human rights is to ensure that people receive some degree of decent, human treatment. However,Savi said in many cases public authorities and government institute policies violates basic human rights therefore, such abuses of power by political leaders and state authorities have devastating effects. He added that
Government of Nagaland is yet to constitute State Human Rights Commission which itself is amounting to serious human rights violation.
Savi said slavery, poverty, physical torture, destruction of property, killing, hunger, sex exploitation, forced labour, child labour, commercial sex exploitation, illiteracy, etc. are against human rights. He reminded that as indigenous people, Article 371A of the Constitution of India provides a special provision giving the Naga people rights to protect their own way of life, its land and resources. He maintained that various Naga Tribal Councils andorganisationsraised strong voices against the certain notified community as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland is simply the demand to protect the rights of indigenous people as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland. The major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act widely seen in the state as draconian. The law comes into force in any part of India that is declared to be disturbed by the state, stated Savi.
Savi questioned –Are the citizens of Nagaland literate enough on human rights and are they able to stand for their own rights and give due respect to the rights of others? Stressed on the need to programme a vigorous defense and promotion of human rights, he said churches, educational institutions and colleges should play active role in promoting peace, justice and social transformation.
Further, he paid tribute to the great leaders who have sacrificed their lives for human rights.
