Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 15 (EMN): In order to voice out against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, a people’s rally demanding repeal of the draconian law will be held on December 17 at Old MLA Hostel Junction in Kohima from 11 am,
The rally will be organised by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF).
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Japfu in Kohima on Wednesday evening, the president of NSF, Kegwayhun Tep, said the issue is being confronted not only by the Nagas but also the entire north-eastern states, and that the federation is all set and prepared to have the mass rally on Friday, anticipated to be one of the largest Naga gatherings.
In this regard, he called upon all the citizens to come forward and show their solidarity and support the cause. He added that the federation particularly sought the support of Kohima-based civil societies, student communities and all the residents of Kohima to ensure that the rally is successful.
Meanwhile, the convenor of the organising committee, Vipopal Kintso, stated that for so many years, the people have been lived under the yoke of AFSPA and were ‘fed up’.
“How long can we continue to be dehumanised and how long can our people be treated as sub-humans? So we would like to clearly voice out to India,” he said.
He maintained that the rally is being organised with special emphasis on the Oting incident. He dwelled on the history of ASFPA in the state, with so many inhuman incidents having taken place, where the voices of the people were suppressed, such as Kohima, Mokokchung, Wuzu (in Phek district), Matikhru, Oinam, unlike the Oting incident that was documented with the advancement of technology.
“All those years our sufferings, the suffering of the people, the killings of the people with fake encounters were all chopped, but now, we hope with this incident and with the help of the media, the eyes will be opened,” he said.
He also appealed to the conscience of India, that the people were suffering for so long and it is high time for the Centre to repeal the draconian law which dehumanises people.
“If India is to proudly say that it is the biggest democracy in the world, this draconian law is not worth its name,” said Kintso.
He also appealed to the denizens of Kohima to come forward and voice out their concern and extend their solidarity by taking part in the rally.
Member of the organising committee, Neizokhotuo Belho said that the rally is being scheduled at 11 am and at Old MLA Hostel junction so that examinations of the student in schools and colleges are not disturbed and to make it convenient for the office goers, to reach their work places before the start of the programme.
Leaders from various organisations will be addressing the rally, wherein the NSF President will deliver the keynote address; Angami Public Organisation (APO) will deliver a solidarity message; and the ENSF will present the Oting story.
Also, a solidarity message will be delivered by North East Students’ Organisation (NESO); Global Naga Forum (GNF), Secretary General of NPMHR, Neingulie Krome will deliver ‘Nagas under the Yoke of AFSPA’; people’s message will be delivered by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR); and ‘Pain of a Mother in the Conflict Zone’ will be presented by Prof. Rosemary Dziivuchii.
After the programme at Old MLA Hostel Junction, the participants will take out procession to Raj Bhavan Kohima holding banners and placards, before a representation is submitted to the President and the Prime Minister of India through the governor of Nagaland.
The organisers informed that the rally will be ‘absolutely peaceful’ and urged students to come in uniform and other participants to wear at least one traditional attire.
While the Friday rally is expected to be one of the largest rallies to repeal AFSPA, the organisers stated that no specific timeline has been set to repeal the law.
However, convenor of the organising committee, Kintso said, “It will certainly tell us the sensibility of the Indian government because with the peace process that is going on, and with the ceasefire with almost all the national groups and the expectation that Naga people are having, from the very outset when ceasefire was declared, we thought that the AFSPA will lose its relevance”.
Meanwhile, Tep maintained that this time, it wants to appeal to the Central government to repeal AFSPA and would continue to give all its efforts for itsremoval.