Demand to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: State National People's Party (NPP) vice-president Thangwang Wangham has condemned the action of security forces in which 14 civilians of Oting village in Nagaland Mon district were killed.

Wangham on Tuesday visited the village and interacted with the deceased families. He extended his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members of those who were killed.

Speaking to the reporters, Wangham said the carnage of wage earners of Oting village on December 4 was genocide and also a heinous crime committed by security personnel. He said the mindset and attitude of every citizen has changed today. Even the extremists now have liberal thoughts with the change of time. Therefore, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is not at all necessary in the present context.

"While I demand for high-level inquiry and appropriate action against the security personnel involved in the carnage, I also demand to repeal AFSPA. We want peace, development and inclusive growth for a happy life and not suffering and oppression under the AFSPA," he said.

Wangham also said the Konyak and Wancho tribes of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh respectively are the most backward and underprivileged tribes. He said the need of the hour is to resolve the internal conflicts by political negotiation and not by resorting to military repression and suppression, which would rather create ill will and enmity.

"The respective Chief Ministers of AFSPA-affected States should talk with the Government of India. Accordingly, bring a conclusion in the Assembly to scrap AFSPA," he said. He, however, appealed to the people of Mon district to maintain peace and to let the law take its own course.

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