Naga People’s Front (NPF) Monday broke its silence over the controversial issue of extension of Disturbed Area Act, saying repeated statements of the Congress party including some of its senior members, who have been ministers in the past, was nothing but a “mockery”adding it spoke volumes of the “incapability” of Congress leaders in Nagaland.
Maintaining that state government has clarified time and again that responsibility of imposition of DAA in the state lay with the Centre, NPF, secretary general K.G.Kenye said despite state government’s recommendation for lifting the DAA through cabinet decision, the union government however imposed extension of DAA in Nagaland.
Kenye asserted that beginning from its first term, the DAN government had recommended to the Centre for non-implementation of DAA in Nagaland in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2011. “These cabinet decisions have reiterated every time the GoI has sought the views of the state government on the matter of DAA,” Kenye said, adding there was nothing to hide about those cabinet decisions.
Pointing out that process for imposition of DAA in Nagaland was same even during Congress regime in the state, Kenye said if Congress leaders were unaware of those procedures then it explained the “level of ignorance of the Congress leaders.” Kenye said opposition Congress in the state was either “ignorant of the fact that the absolute authority rests with the Centre” or simply refuses to understand and was trying to use the matter for “scoring political brownie points” for want of other relevant issues.
Echoing the remark of chief minister’s office, the NPF secretary general said Congress leaders rather than carrying out “its habit political mudslinging in the matter” call upon the Congress-led UPA government to understand the feelings of the people.
He also stated that declaration of disturbed area under AFSPA was enacted in 1958, adding that regions in which nationalist and secessionist movements with armed insurgency existed were declared as disturbed area by the Centre.
Stating that generations of Nagas grew up under the cloud and suffering of the AFSPA, the NPF leader said every Naga family had directly or indirectly felt “the evil force of these draconian laws.” He maintained that “these draconian laws” have been condemned by democratic human right activists both at national and international level.
Yet, Kenye said they (GoI) continued to impose upon the citizens of the country “by the country’s own state machinery.” He said the regional cock party, presently NPF, has opposed and condemned these draconian laws since their inception and continues to do so.
Further, maintaining that NPF shared the same view of the DAN cabinet, Kenye said the DAA and the AFSPA should not be imposed in Nagaland in view of the ongoing peace process, existence of ceasefire agreements and improved law and order situation as compared to previous years.
However, the NPF said “it is also the fact that the army atrocities and human rights abuses have significantly reduced over the years and at present the improved law and order situation and existence of ceasefire have ensured the virtual absence of misuse of the AFSA in Nagaland.”
Kenye said despite those facts the party continued to oppose the extension of DAA in the state.
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