EMN
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has condemned “the malicious effort” of the Assam Riffles to curtail the “freedom of press of the Nagas”. According to the Federation, the letter from Colonel Rajesh Gupta on October 24 under the heading “Media Support Unlawful Activities” is an act to bring further confusion among the Nagas by not providing opportunities for free inflow of information and ideas which are essential for maintaining transparency and peace at this crucial juncture.
The Federation advised the Assam Rifles to stay away from “family affairs” when all the Naga civil organisations, media fraternity and every concerned Naga soul are praying and trying hard to bring peace “in our land”. The Federation said the press needs a space to run freely without any interference from outside agencies so that they can give unbiased & impartial reports and provide spaces for healthy discussions of diverse opinions and ideas.
“The office of the Federation gives its utmost solidarity to the media fraternity to stand by the truth and not be bogged down by letter from an external agency. The Federation appealed to the editors of the Nagaland-based newspapers to take Nagas to greater heights even as they continue to engage with their work without constraint and fear while upholding and safeguarding the ideas of non-violence, fraternity and democracy.
The Federation also vehemently condemned the killings of four Naga cadres at Laikunger village of Tuensang district by the Assam Rifles. Unprovoked killings will cause further bloodshed and the efforts to bring a lasting peace will be a distant dream. It is high time that the Assam Rifles stop terrorizing the Nagas while trumpeting the slogan “Friends of the Hill People.” The madness of taking lives at will and the insensitivity towards the Naga political issue will rather do more harm than good. The NSF then extended its deepest condolence to family members of the “fallen Naga cadres”.
