Nagaland
“They were happily shooting at us”. Said Nyawang Konyak, The district president. The security forces were supposed to protect us, not kill us. This is unfortunately a familiar story of Indian minorities. This is NOT the first time such a massacre happened in Nagaland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8ERICO5-Fs&t=87s ---- pause— A truck was carrying coal miners on Dec 4th. They were returning home after a hard day of work. Indian commandos opened fire at them killing 6. Victims could not ask why they were killed. When nearby villagers heard the shots, they came out. They found commandos trying to hide the bodies. Naga people protested. They blocked the truck carrying away the bodies without their clothing. That is when the commandos were killed again. 7 more people. Another day of protest. Another Naga was shot dead. Why were the Indian Commandos there? They say they were looking for rebels. They have been looking for Naga rebels since the 1950s. Just like Kashmir, Nagaland people are not happy. Their demands range from autonomy to full freedom. Nagaland firing victims’ families have refused any government compensation. They want justice. But this may not happen. They are demanding that the Indian Commandos are brought to justice before the Civil code of law. They are also demanding the repeal of the Armed Force Special Power Act. Manno Wangnao is a journalist belonging to the Konyak tribe in Mon district of Nagaland. She says that this incident is a direct result of special powers given to Indian troops in the state. The Armed Force Special Powers Act does not allow military personnel to be punished. It gives them immunity. Even the Chief minister of Nagaland has called for the repeal of the Armed Force Special Powers Act. Well. That is what Kashmiris were calling for also. No military soldier in Kashmir is ever punished for killing 90,000 plus Kashmiries. Human Rights Watch agrees. It says Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act; And Prosecute Soldiers Responsible. This law grants impunity to security forces. The so-called lawless law gives the armed forces wide powers. They can shoot to kill. make arrests on flimsy pretexts. conduct warrantless searches. and demolish homes and businesses. Nagaland is where Naga people live. This peaceful, lush green valley is sandwiched between Burma and India. Most of the 2 million people here are Christians. They neither look like Indians, nor they eat like Indians. And they are not happy with India either. Massacres like this feed their desire for self determination.
