Memorandum submitted by Western Sumi Students’ Union to the PM highlighted key grievances of the northeastern people, including issues related to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), economic development, racial discrimination, and the long-pending Naga political solution.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The officials of the Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU), led by its president and general secretary, participated in the Northeast Students and Youth Parliament on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting that it be relayed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The memorandum highlighted key grievances of the northeastern people, including issues related to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), economic development, racial discrimination, and the long-pending Naga political solution. WSSU emphasized that, despite being an integral part of India, the Northeast continues to face challenges associated with stringent security laws, economic underdevelopment, and discrimination. The union urged the Prime Minister’s Office to take necessary measures to address these concerns and ensure justice, progress, and inclusivity for the region.
The General Secretary of WSSU, representing the Sümi tribe, attended the North East Students and Youth Parliament in Delhi on March 11, organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
During the session, the visiting student leader strongly advocated for the repeal of AFSPA, citing human rights violations. He argued that although AFSPA was originally enacted to curb insurgency, its continued enforcement in states where peace prevails has resulted in civilian casualties, fear, and distrust in governance.
WSSU referenced several instances of AFSPA-related violence, including:
- The Oting Massacre (2021) in which 14 civilians were killed by security forces in a botched operation.
- The Malom Massacre (2000) in Manipur, where 10 civilians were killed, leading to Irom Sharmila’s 16-year-long hunger strike.
- The Heirangoithong Massacre (1984) in Manipur, where paramilitary forces opened fire on civilians at a sporting event, killing 13.
The student body reiterated the urgent need for the government to reconsider AFSPA’s presence in peaceful states and to implement policies that promote development, safeguard human rights, and uphold justice for the people of the Northeast.