The forum also urged all Naga leaders – “overground and underground” – to rise above party politics and self-interests by demonstrating statesmanship and healing leadership using nonviolent means.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has expressed outrage over the “obvious intention of the senseless and arbitrary killings of innocent Naga civilians committed by India’s 21st Para Special Forces Regiment”.
In a public declaration and programme held at Christian Higher Secondary School (CHHS), Dimapur in memory of the December 4 and 5 victims at Oting village in Mon district, the FNR stated that the public have come together and stand in “absolute solidarity with Oting Village and the Konyak Naga People”.
FNR said “We are outraged by the obvious intention of the senseless and arbitrary killings of innocent Naga civilians committed by India’s 21st Para Special Forces Regiment”. Considering the incidents as violation of “the right to life” and “the gravest infringement of human dignity and human worth” the forum has also demanded the immediate removal and repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.
FNR asked the government to ensure justice for the victims of Oting and Mon killings and asked the government of India to initiate appropriate “disciplinary action against the Commanding Officer and personnel of the 21st Para Special Forces Regiment involved in the killings of 13 civilians and injuring at least 14 civilians in Oting on December 4” according to the rule of law.
The forum demanded taking disciplinary action against the Commanding Officer and personnel of the 27th Assam Rifles involved in the shooting that killed 1 civilian and injured at least 18 civilians in Mon Town on December 5.
“The tragedies in Oting and Mon present an opportunity for Nagas to self-reflect and discern together so that our present crisis can be publicly redressed”, said FNR.
Forum for Naga Reconciliation also implored the Naga Political Groups shed their “differences and take positive steps to reconcile, unite in purpose and cooperate in the common interest of the shared Naga historical and political rights”.
The forum urged all Naga leaders – “overground and underground” – to rise above party politics and self-interests by demonstrating statesmanship and healing leadership using nonviolent means. It asked the Naga public to hold their leaders and themselves accountable, and resist “all forms of tribalism and other forms of isms which divide the Nagas”.
During the programme, pictures remembering the Konyak brothers who lost their lives in the incidents were displayed by FNR Oting team. Stories from the ground zero was shared by Konyak Union Dimapur (KUD) president, Mosa Konyak, and Nyawang Wangsha from Oting village.
President, Eastern Nagaland Women Organization Dimapur (ENWOD), delivered solidarity message for the victims. The programme was attended by members from Dimapur based different organizations.