NEDF urges authority to take up measures for ensuring safety of civilians in the aftermath of Signing Indo-Naga peace deal

IT News

Imphal, Oct 29

Fearing unprecedented violence in the aftermath of the final settlement of the Indo-Naga peace deal, the North East Dialogue  Forum  (NEDF) has urged the authority to immediately  form  a  Committee   with  representatives  from  Government  and  Civilians  to  monitor  the  indicators  of   anticipated  violence  and/   human  rights  violations  by  both  negotiating  parties  during  the  negotiation  process  and   during  the  signing  period  of  the  Agreement.

A statement of the NEDF also appealed all concerns engaging in the peace deal to  respect   provisions   of  Article   19,  21,  22,  14  and  others  of  the  Constitution  of  India  and  allow    the   civilian  population  to  exercise   their   freedom  of  speech,  movement,  association,  peaceful  assembly  and  not  turn  to  invoking  various  sections  of  the  I.P.C.  and  Cr.P.C.  and   AFSPA   to  silence  the  majority   who  totally   are   out  of sync  with  the  whole  process  of  peace  negotiations.

The forum also appealed the Government  of  India   to    respect   the  UN  Declaration   on  Rights  of  the  Indigenous  Peoples   (UNDRIP,   2007)  and   to  ensure   Free,   Prior  and  Informed  Consent  of  the  people  for  deploying  so  much  security  forces  with   frequent   frisking  by  State  and  central  security   forces  thereby  driving  a  fear  psychosis  in  the  minds  of  the  public  who  have   to   move  here  and  there  for  means  of  livelihood,  studies,  etc. The NEDF also appealed the authority to invite CSOs from various ethnic communities of the region that may affect to make the official peace negotiations   very inclusive  besides, providing  space  to  a  substantial  number    of  women   to  participate  in  the  negotiating   process.

The forum also urged to seek   opinions  of  victims  of  extrajudicial  execution,  involuntary  disappearances,  of  rape,  child  soldiers,  land  mine  survivors,  and  victims  of  undeclared  war  between   the  NSCN  and  Govt.  forces  for  the  last  so  many  decades  and  that  they  be  included  in  the  Framework  Negotiations. The NEDP also urged to  make  it  mandatory   for  para-military  forces   deployed   in  Manipur  and  Nagaland   to  be  under   the   supervision   of  the  respective  State  Police  including  Women  Police, while appealing to put the negotiated Framework to be put in public domain with  the  inevitability  of   public  referendum  within  a  given  time  frame  before  it  is  signed,  declared  and  implemented.

The above points were urged in view of the disagreements    among  the  different  negotiating  groups  as  to  what   would  be  the  final  outcome  of  this  process and the series of protest in  Manipur fearing disintegration of Manipur.

NEDF   expressed apprehension  that   violence  may  occur  between  the  negotiating  parties  or  parties  not  part  of  the  negotiating  process  and even  parties  not  agreeing  to  this  process.