The Western Naga Youth Front (WNYF) has strongly condemned the reported drone attack on Naga civilians in Naga areas of Myanmar, allegedly carried out by the Indian armed forces.
According to a statement issued by WNYF on Wednesday, the attack claimed the lives of a seven-year-old child and a 27-year-old civilian, “both unarmed and defenseless.” Calling it a “deplorable violation of human rights and international law,” the WNYF expressed “profound sorrow” over the loss of innocent lives.
The WNYF said the incident echoed the 2021 Oting incident in Nagaland, where 14 unarmed Naga civilians were killed by Indian armed forces. “Nearly four years later, justice has still not been delivered to the victims and their families,” the statement read, adding that the absence of accountability had “emboldened further acts of impunity, perpetuating a cycle of violence and fear across Naga lands.”
The WNYF asserted that the Naga people have endured “decades of militarization and systematic human rights abuses without justice or recognition.” It said these repeated violations reflect “a broader pattern of disregard for the dignity and lives of our people.”
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The youth body called upon the international community, human rights organizations, and advocates of peace and justice to take cognizance of the “serious crimes” and hold the perpetrators accountable. It further stated that “domestic judiciary has failed time and again in serving justice to the Nagas.”
Reaffirming solidarity with the victims and their families, the WNYF said, “The cycle of violence against civilians must end, and those responsible must face justice. The bloodshed must stop, and truth and accountability must prevail in our land.”
