Bodies differ on removal of AR
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 29 2011:
The question of removing 11 Assam Rifles from Zeliangrong areas particularly from Tamenglong district has cropped up as a bone of contention among Zeliangrong organisations.
Reacting strongly to the statement of certain group that demand for removal of 11 AR from Zeliangrong areas was not a decision of the Zeliangrong people, the Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) accused that particular group as stooges of the security forces who had issued 'a misguided statement in connivance with the 11 AR'.
The Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB) also said that leaders who are behind the particular group are 'black sheep who had volunteered themselves to work as vanguards of the 11 Assam Rifles.' The ZB also said Zeliangrong public and history will never forgive those 'black sheep' .
The impasse over this matter cropped up following the March 13 incident where an NSCN-IM functionary was arrested by personnel of 11 AR in Tamenglong.
In a swift reaction to this incident a mob had snatched an AK-47 rifles from the Assam Rifles in the melee that ensued.
Meanwhile, ZB (AM & N) today said enough is enough that under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 the Nagas have suffered to the point where words are limited to express the miseries.
The ZB alleged 'under AFSPA-1958 Naga women have been raped, large number of heinous crimes committed against Nagas and killings of thousands of innocent Nagas in fake encounters by the security forces'.
It also alleged that as killing and raping of Naga women were not enough, properties worth billions of rupees had been looted in the guise of Operation Blue Star, Operation Blue Bird, Operation Rhino etc.
etc.
"Those experiences are very much vivid in the Naga mind," said the Baudi.
The ZB said it was shameful for the largest democracy like India to have persisted with AFSPA-1958 inspite of being signatory to several human rights declarations including that of the Geneva Convention.
It also wondered as to why New Delhi is reluctant to repeal AFSPA-1958 though the Jeevan Reddy Commission had recommended its scrapping.