Expressed unhappiness over government of India’s decision to continue Armed force special Power Act (AFSPA) for another six months, Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC) said that the enactment of this military act was a direct threat to peace; a violation to the Right to Life and depriving its citizens of their Constitutional Rights.
In a press note, NPC chairman Pedi Miacheo reminded that it had earlier written to the President of India– who is also the constitutional head of the country, to lift AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act from Nagaland.
In the letter, it stated that enforcing Armed force special Power Act was a not only a threat to peace and security of the people, but also deprived citizenship rights.
It also mentioned that the Government of India has breached all three ceasefire agreements (1964, 1975 and 1997) made between the Centre and the Nagas by introducing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland.
It also mentioned that Nagas had been waiting for peaceful and amicable settlement of the political issues.
Nagaland Peace Centre said it was displeased with the Government of India for labelling Nagaland as still ‘disturbed and dangerous’ and at the same time the inhabitants of Nagaland were being terrorized by the act for many years now.
“The extension of Armed force special Power Act shows the ill motive of the Government of India, whose only reason is to suppress the Naga people,” Nagaland Peace Centre stated.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Peace Centre has urged Nagas in general and the Konyaks in particular, to not resort to violence but act wisely so that peace and security was maintained in the land, adding that the NPC would continue to stand on its principle of non-violence.