Dimapur, Jan. 3 (EMN): Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC) has expressed unhappiness over the government of India’s decision to continue AFSPA for another six months and termed the enactment of military act as a “direct threat to peace; a violation to the right to life and depriving its citizens of their constitutional rights.
A NPC’s press release stated that it had earlier written a letter to the President of India, who is also the constitutional head of the country, to lift AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act from Nagaland. In the letter, it stated that enforcing AFSPA was a threat to peace and security of the people, which also deprived them of their citizenship rights. It also mentioned that the government of India had breached all three ceasefire agreements (1964, 1975 and 1997) made between the government of India and the Naga people by introducing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland.
It also mentioned that Nagas were awaiting the long political issues between the government of India and the Nagas for peaceful and amicable settlement.
“Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC) is displeased with the government of India for labeling Nagaland as still ‘disturbed and dangerous,’ but whereas, the inhabitants of Nagaland have been terrorised by the act for many years now. The extension of AFSPA shows the ill motive of the government of India, whose only reason is to suppress the Naga people,” NPC stated.
NPC, while voicing its displeasure over the extension of AFSPA in Nagaland, urged the Naga people in general and the Konyaks in particular not to resort to violence but act wisely so that peace and security is maintained in the land. It further affirmed to continue standing on its principle of non-violence.