Shillong, Dec 07: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) today has written to all the North Eastern State Chief Minister, Mr Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland, Mr.Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam, Mr. Conrad Kongkal Sangma of Meghalaya, Mr. Pu Zoramthanga of Mizoram, Mr. Biplab Kumar of Tripura, Mr. Nongthombam Biren of Manipur, Mr. Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh.
In the letter sign by Dr. PBM Basaiawmoit consultant and Anthony Debbarm appeal for urgent intervention to the fluid situation prevailing in Mon District of Nagaland brought about by indiscriminate firing of Assam Rifle personnel, posted at Sonari in Assam at local villagers in Tiru-Oting area of Mon District, Nagaland, who are Konyak Nagas.
The NEDF strongly condemns the high handedness of Assam Rifle personnels by shooting indiscriminately at the Konyak Naga coal mine workers while they were returning to their villages on 4th December 2021 to attend the worship in the church on Sunday.
The incident took place at Tiru-Oting area of Mon district of Nagaland. In such a volatile situation Indian Military including AR have the responsibility to protect the lives of the civilians. Shooting civilians by the Indian Military is a racist act. It is very clear to all of us that AR is killing the civilians under AFSPA. AR are confident that they will be protected by this law.
The NEDF also appreciates your leadership and intervention so that the situation would not escalate further. However, NEDF has few technical question to the Union Government of India and North Eastern states of India.
The NEDF question who has given the authority to AR in Sonari in Assam to cross the state border to Nagaland and carried out the shooting of civilians. Technically AR under AFSPA are deployed in the region to assist the civil Authority meaning AR should operate under the order of the DC.
Do the AR seek the permission from the concerned DC of the District in Assam and Nagaland to organize such military operation? If not, what are you going to do, What could be the role of the owner of the one of the coal mines in Mon district bordering Sonari in Assam to get the help from the AR to protect his illegal coal mining.
Were there any procedures to arrest the suspects and investigate them to bring the suspected perpetrator under the rule of law? Is the rule of law under the AR. How long will the government of India allow our innocent people to be killed by AR with the fault allegation.
The NEDF appeal to constitute an independent, credible and impartial investigation team to examine the case of killing by AR at Tiru-Voting area of Mon district of Nagaland within a time frame so that this report can be submitted to the double bench of the Supreme Court of India presently working on the cases of Extrajudicial Execution for further legal action against the perpetrators and the responsible commander of the concern AR in Sonari.
The orgnisation also appeal to all the CMs of the region and Hon’ble PM of India to provide immediate compensation of Rupees 10 lacs each as relief and rehabilitation of the families who lost their bread earners.
The NEDF appeal to all the CMs in the region to call an emergency meeting to discuss the situation of high handedness of AR under AFSPA and take steps to repeal AFSPA1958 from the North Eastern region of India immediately.
The organsiation appeal to respect recommendation by Justice Santosh Hegde Commission of Supreme Court of India , Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission ,12 Special Rapporteur and Treaty Bodies of Human Right Council of UN to repeal AFSPA as a matter of urgency.
The NEDF appeal to all Chief Minister, Prime Minister of India to invite the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Execution, Special Rapporteur on Right of Minorities, and Special Rapporteur on Right of Indigenous peoples to witness the grave human right violation by the AR in the name of counter insurgencies, said Dr.P. B. M. Basaiawmoit Consultant and Anthony Debbarm in the press statement.
