Mokokchung, May 1 (MTNews): Following a request from the inspector general of Assam Rifles GAR (North) Major General Vikas Lakhera, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has temporarily withdrawn its indefinite “non-cooperation” against Indian security forces.
It may be recalled that ENPO declared “non-cooperation” with the security forces following the Oting and Mon incidents in December 2021, in which 14 civilians were killed.
ENPO President R Tsapikiu Sangtam and general secretary Manlang Phom, said “ENPO, in the interest of mutual co-existence and respect, do hereby temporarily withdraw all forms of non-cooperation against Indian security forces in the presence of S Phangnon Konyak, MP, Rajya Sabha.”
The ENPO following the killing of 14 innocent civilians by the Indian security forces in Mon district on December 4 and 5 last year held a joint consultative meeting with all the eastern Nagaland civil society organizations in Longleng town on December 14 and unanimously resolved not to extend cooperation to the Indian security forces until its demand was met and justice delivered to the families of the victims in particular and the Nagas in general.
The joint consultative meeting had demanded that the Indian security force personnel involved in the killings should be booked under relevant law and be brought under civil court for trial.
The media cell of the ENPO had said that the non-cooperation would be in the forms of abstaining from any national celebrations, or such activities, non-participation in Army civic programs, non-attendance to any of their official invitations and disallowing any security forces recruitment drive within eastern Nagaland area.
KU on temporary withdrawal of non-cooperation
Konyak Union on Sunday stated that withdrawal of non-cooperation to Indian security forces did not mean withdrawal of its demand for justice. KU said “the Konyak civil societies are not compromised with the Justice demanded that was put forward to the President of India and the Konyak CSOs will steadfastly adhere to its decision to pursue until the justice is met.”
“It is deeply felt that the comprehensive notion of withdrawal of non-cooperation is to restrain any development of adverse circumstances in law and order situation in the region while placing trust and confidence upon the peoples’ mandate authority and the peoples’ demand should not go futile,” read the KU statement.
The Union reminded its demands put forward to the President of India, which were to identify all personnel of the 21 Indian paratroopers involved in the killing of 14 innocent civilians and punished under applicable civil court; action taken to be put into public domain and complete removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the northeastern states of India.
While saying that imposing non-cooperation was “expressing out peoples’ sentiments,” KU added that “temporary withdrawal” should not be taken for granted. KU further questioned why action had not been initiated since the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the incidents had already been submitted.
The Union said that action should be fast tracked as demanded by the people and as assured by AR Maj.Gen. Vikas Lakhera, SM, IGAR North on Feb.7, 2022 at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Mon, it said.
“The partially lifting of AFSPA in Nagaland is not delivering justice as demanded by the Konyak CSOs and if there is delay in delivering justice as demanded while placing trust upon the concerned authority, the Konyak Civil society spearheaded by Konyak Union would break the trust and confidence and shall opt to resume the non-cooperation movement towards the Indian military forces that the onus will be held by the government,” it added.