Naga group condemns Myanmar Junta’s forced conscription of N
Naga group condemns Myanmar Junta’s forced conscription of Nagas
Nagas in Myanmar are once again facing the Myanmar military junta’s “brutal policy” of forced conscription within the Naga Self-Administered Zone (NSAZ)
DIMAPUR — Nagas in Myanmar are once again facing the Myanmar military junta’s
“brutal policy” of forced conscription within the Naga Self-Administered Zone
(NSAZ), according to a statement issued by the Yung Aung-led NSCN(K) .
In the press release, the Naga group reiterated its
commitment to a strict policy of non-interference in Myanmar’s internal
conflict, emphasizing the importance of preventing the destabilisation of Naga
territories.
The group highlighted the historical trauma endured by Eastern
Nagas under the Myanmar military and stressed the need to avoid any further
disintegration of the Naga homeland.
“Regrettably, the recent flyers circulated by the Myanmar
military junta to promulgate the conscription law have demonstrated a blatant
disregard for the collective stand of the Nagas. This has caused widespread
shock and disappointment, as no one understands the consequences of such
actions better than the Nagas themselves,” the statement read.
Following the junta’s announcement, military personnel in
the NSAZ have reportedly been compiling lists and forcibly apprehending young
people across townships, including Khamti and Homlin, sparking fear and
insecurity among the local population.
The NSCN(K) reiterated that the Nagas have never accepted the
suzerainty of either India or Myanmar over their territory.
“The enforcement of the mandatory conscription law on the
Nagas is neither morally nor legally justifiable under international law. We
consider this a direct threat to our national movement,” the group stated.
It further described the junta’s actions as an attempt to
coerce Nagas into serving as human shields in the ongoing conflict—an act it
labelled a severe violation of human rights.
The group also condemned certain “corrupt Naga groups” for
allegedly collaborating with the junta for personal gain, calling their actions
a “huge blunder against their own people.”
Warning of potential resistance, the NSCN(K) affirmed that
if Nagas feel unsafe in their own land, they will be compelled to defend themselves
and ensure their youth are not used as instruments of war.
“The Myanmar junta and its proxies must cease their
destructive policies immediately. The NSCN/GPRN calls upon all Nagas to
continue the resistance and urges every forcibly enlisted Naga to contact the
nearest authority at the earliest,” it stated.
