NPMHR scoffs at AR’s response about respect for religion

Dimapur, October 30 : The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has ridiculed the response of the Assam Rifles about the Indian security forces having ‘respect for religion.’ Perpetrators, the organization stated on Sunday, are ‘always the Assam Rifles’ and victims and their community are called “liars” and claim that they ‘have immense respect for all religions and will never take any step or action to disrespect any religious place of worship.’ “Is there any other higher level of arrogance that adds salts to fresh injury and insults human intelligence of the highest degree?” a press release from the NPMHR on October 30 queried. Stating that the history of the Naga people had been one of suffering and inhumane atrocities ever since the Indian military set foot in Nagaland, the NPMHR recounted an alleged instance: on the 11th of July 1971, four teenage girls below 18 years of age were tortured and raped from the pulpit of Yankeli Baptist Christian Church in under Wokha district. Just recently, the 28th Assam Rifles forcefully occupied the ‘church and guest house’ of Mekokla Baptist Church on the 22nd of October; they also attacked a “group of Naga army” when currently in ceasefire with the Indian government. The fracas left one dead and another injured, the NPMHR stated. “Desecrating religious places is not new to the Indian armed forces, not only in the case of Christian churches, but also take the example of ‘Operation Bluestar’ and many others across India. The recent forced occupation of religious places at Mekokla is only a grim reminder that the war against Naga people is taking place every day by any and all kinds of name,” the organization stated. The group lamented that human rights violations and psychological abuse rekindle horrible memories in India’s war against the Naga people. The organization observed that the occasional “so-called ceasefires and peace talks” only gives full freedom to the Indian military to do anything and everything with full impunity under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Stating that “we are not a nation of liars” and “we do not allege our pain or sufferings,” the NPMHR reminded whosoever that “we experience it.” Today, it stated, “the shameless acts” of the 28th Assam Rifles once again directly violated the Supreme Court’s directive. “NPMHR is greatly encouraged to see the responses of the Naga public through the various civil society organizations including the church and students, who have demonstrated against the evil actions of 28 Assam Rifles through various democratic processes their resentments.” The organization has encouraged the people to “inculcate” and remain steadfast to the values of human rights, and to protest and ‘fight back when called upon to defend the brutal prosecution of our people.’ The NPMHR has again urged the government of India to “recall its forced military occupation of Naga areas.”