KOHIMA, AUGUST 3: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) in collaboration with all the other Naga frontal organizations, Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), will organize a public rally on August 11 at Kohima Local Ground to press the Government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Area Act (DAA) from all Naga inhabited areas.
The decision to organize the rally came following a threatening legal notice issued by the Assam Rifles to the president of the Pochury Students’ Union (PSU) on July 20.
Addressing a press conference this afternoon at NSF office chamber, the NSF president Subenthung Kithan informed that the 46th Assam Rifles ‘Charlie Coy’ represented by Shesh Pal Singh, warrant officer, Bravo Company of 46th AR, had issued a legal notice to Joyson Fithu, the president of Pochury Students’ Union, demanding an immediate corrigendum to tender an unconditional apology within a period of 15 days in the local dailies. The PSU president, who was also part of the arrangement of the candle light service for the Wuzu firing on July 16 at Kohima town, was charged for tarnishing the image of the Assam Rifles.
The legal notice was issued on July 20, and the last date of the 15 days notice ends on August 4 (Thursday). According to the legal notice, a copy of which was also given to the media persons, warned the PSU president to tender his apology, failing which, a defamation suit would be filed against him for tarnishing the image of the AR. It further said the warrant officer Shesh Pal Singh had been given instruction to approach a competent court to file the defamation suit if at all Joyson failed to tender his apology.
According to the legal notice, the AR said it was shocked to be blamed for killing two innocent students Lt. Aso and Lt. Tuzali during the Wuzu firing incident. The AR supported its statement basing on the ground that the Judicial Inquiry Commission set up by the State government has not submitted its report till date, and therefore, the definite findings as to who is responsible for the death of the two students is yet to be furnished.
The matter is sub-judiced before an inquiry commission and therefore alleging that the two students were brutally killed by the 46th AR ‘C’ Coy is incorrect and defamatory in nature which has tarnished the good and friendly image of the AR, said the legal notice and further asked the PSU president to immediately recall the news article published in the newspapers by tendering a public apology.At the press conference, the NSF president also informed that the PRO of IGAR (North) sent several messages (SMS) to the PSU president on July 16, 2016, to call off the candlelight service programme organized by the NSF in honour of the two students.
However, withstanding the pressure of the Assam Rifles, and further to press the GoI to repeal the draconian law - AFSPA, the NSF said it will organize the public rally to send a strong message to the Indian security forces for its unlawful act and behavior on the pretext of AFSPA.
To this, the NSF has also directed all the educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities to strictly adhere to the call of the NSF on the day of the public rally. The NSF president also informed that the rally against AFSPA and DAA on August 11 would be held simultaneously in all the district headquarters in collaboration with all the federating units and the Eastern Naga Students Federation.
After the rally, the NSF and other leaders will proceed to the Chief Minister’s office to submit a memorandum to press for repealing AFSPA from Naga homeland.
Prior to the public rally, the NSF had also directed all the school-going students to wear black arm bands as in a way to show resentment against the Assam Rifles for threatening student leader. The directive to put on black arm bands started today, it informed.
Though the NSF had firstly issued a notice to all the students to put on black arm bands for three days (From Aug 3-5), a new directive had been issued to the students to put on black arm bands till August 11, the day of the public rally. The apex student body further informed that it will be assigning volunteers to keep a check in all the schools and institutions on the black armbands, adding that every student should manage their own ribbons.
Advisor NMA Rosemary Dzüvichü who also attended the press conference felt that every Naga citizen should join the NSF to send a strong message to repeal AFSPA.
“Everyone should come out and walk the street with us. This is the strongest message,” she said. While stating that the draconian law of India – AFSPA started from Nagaland, Rosemary also asserted it is the responsibility of the Nagas to spearhead the fight against AFSPA.
Meanwhile, the NMA advisor also slammed the State government for the delay in submitting the report of the inquiry commission.
Naga Hoho general secretary Mutsikhoyi Yhobu, on behalf of the Hoho, assured to give the fullest support to the NSF in its effort to organize the public rally.
“To threaten a student leader is a real insult. AR claims they are the friends of the hill people, but they are not. How long will the GoI implement this draconian law,” Yhobu said while recalling the dreadful acts carried out by the AR on the pretext of AFSPA.
The press conference was also attended by NPMHR executive member Kenneth and NSF general secretary Boveio.
Meanwhile, the NSF has convened a consultative meeting with all the Naga mass-based organizations on August 5 at 11 am at Hotel Japfü, Kohima.
