AFSPA panel composition questioned by Konyak CSO

The influential civil society organisation is seeking justice for the 14 civilians killed in a botched counter-insurgency operation at Oting and its aftermath in Mon district

Amit Shah.: File photo

Umanand Jaiswal   |   TT  |  Guwahati   |   28.12.21  :  The influential Konyak Civil Society Organisation on Monday asked why there were “no delegates from ground zero” at a meeting between Union home minister Amit Shah and Nagaland leaders and lamented the “non-inclusion” of anybody from the area affected by the December 4 massacre of civilians in a panel to look into the possibility of revoking the AFSPA.

The Mon-based Konyak CSO is seeking justice for the 14 civilians killed in a botched counter-insurgency operation at Oting and its aftermath in Mon district and the repeal of the “draconian” Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The law gives sweeping powers to security forces to search, arrest and shoot in designated trouble zones. Demands for the withdrawal of the AFSPA have grown louder following the Oting deaths.

A Konyak CSO member said by “ground zero”, the outfit meant representatives from Mon district.

In a joint media conference on Sunday, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and two other senior leaders from the state informed that the Centre had decided to form a five member panel to look into the possibility of the withdrawal of the AFSPA from Nagaland.

The committee — to be headed by the additional secretary (Northeast) in the Union home ministry and include the Nagaland chief secretary and director-general of police, the inspector-general of Assam Rifles (North) and a CRPF representative — is to submit its report in 45 days.

The decision to form the committee was taken at the December 23 meeting with Shah. Rio, Nagaland deputy chief minister Y. Patton, Naga People’s Front Legislature Party leader T.R. Zeliang and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had attended the meeting.

The Konyak CSO, after a meeting on Monday to discuss the decisions of the December 23 meeting, appreciated the “concern” of Shah to deliver justice to the victims of the Oting massacre and lauded the “initiative” of Rio, Patton and Zeliang at the December 23 meeting, but lamented why nobody from “ground zero” was present to “authenticate & portray the real incidents/stories about the Oting massacre” and why none from the affected area was included in the committee.

The outfit said only someone from ground zero would be able to “portray the untold sufferings of the civilians for so many decades” under the “draconian” AFSPA.

The Konyak CSO appealed to the members of the committee to accord utmost priority to the “value of humanity” while framing its recommendations.

“Human rights and value had been ignored and neglected for so many decades and under such circumstances, so many violations and atrocities had been inflicted. So many untold miseries and pain had been shouldered till date. Those members in the assigned committee should also be aware that people at ground zero have had enough of AFSPA. Time has come to say “enough is enough”,” the Konyak CSO said.

The Konyak CSO also said it would allow the army to conduct an inquiry into the Oting killings but any visit “must be with no arms and uniforms”.

It resolved “not to rest” until those involved in the killings are booked and an action-taken report placed in the public domain by January 10.

“Considering justice delayed is justice denied, the Konyak CSO will be compelled to convene an all-Konyak Summit on January 18 to discuss further course of action if justice is delayed. Hence, it is time for the Government of India to prove whether we are its citizens or not,” the Konyak CSO said.