GNF condemns AFSPA extension, calls for repeal and end to Protected Area Permit

The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has strongly condemned the Government of India’s (GoI) decision to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, for another six months in Naga homeland. The forum termed the move “completely unacceptable” and accused the Indian government of using the law as a tool of oppression against the Naga people despite years of peace in the region.

In a statement, the GNF asserted that AFSPA, a law granting sweeping powers to the armed forces, is “fundamentally anti-democratic and anti-people.”  GNF said the normalization of AFSPA in Naga lands through a six-monthly renewal routine for the last 67 years running does not stand up to scrutiny – political, legal, or moral. It is unconscionable and universally condemnable.

The GNF stated that the ongoing ceasefire between Naga political groups and the Government of India has effectively led to a suspension of armed conflicts in the region.

“Peace has prevailed for years. Yet, strangely, the Indian government’s response to the peaceful situation has been punitive on the Naga public,” the GNF stated. Instead of building on the gains of the ceasefire for a more lasting peace by repealing the colonial-era law, as a goodwill gesture, the GNF said Government of India has repeatedly imposed it in Naga areas, thereby making AFSPA a permanent fixture in the lives of everyday Naga civilians.

The forum accused the Indian armed forces of operating under AFSPA with “complete impunity from criminal prosecution,” leading to human rights violations, including the mass killing of innocent civilians. It further alleged that the continued imposition of the law reflects the Indian state’s “unending repression” of the Naga people through “military oppression and intimidation.”

GNF questions India’s commitment to peace
The GNF raised concerns over whether the Indian government genuinely cares about the aspirations of the Naga people, who seek a lasting peace and a dignified future. The forum questioned the sincerity of New Delhi’s approach to the Naga issue, arguing that the extension of AFSPA undermines the spirit of the ceasefire and contradicts democratic principles.

“Is the Indian government committed to justice for the Nagas by fostering genuine dialogue to reach a negotiated peaceful settlement without AFSPA hanging over the heads and haunting our lands?” the statement read.

GNF further stated that the extension of AFSPA not only undermines the spirit of the ceasefire, but also contradicts the principles of democratic governance, terming it “a blatant affront to the aspiration of the Naga people.”

The GNF also criticized the economic and military motivations behind AFSPA, suggesting that the law serves as a financial and strategic advantage for the Indian state while eroding the fundamental rights and identity of the Naga people.

“The continued militarization of our lands under the guise of national security may be a military boon and financial peanuts for Government of India in return for the budgetary support it gives the state of Nagaland, but the Indian armed forces operating under AFSPA in our homeland is a direct assault on our fundamental rights and identity,” the GNF said.

Call for removal of Protected Area Permit
Apart from AFSPA, the GNF also condemned the recent reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) on foreign visitors entering Nagaland, calling it a “regressive step that must be revoked immediately.” The GNF argued that PAP and the related Restricted Area Permit (RAP) create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, discouraging international visitors, researchers, and well-wishers from engaging with the Naga homeland.

“The RAP is yet another colonial-era relic that isolates the Naga people and restricts opportunities for cultural exchange, economic growth, and international awareness of the Naga struggle,” the statement added.

The forum stressed that PAP restrictions hinder tourism and investment, depriving the region of much-needed development and global engagement. It called on the Indian government to lift these restrictions with immediate effect.

“Allowing free access to foreign visitors will promote greater understanding and solidarity with the Naga people while fostering socio-economic development in the region,” it reasoned.
Demand for immediate action

The GNF called upon the Government of India to demonstrate “political maturity” by revoking the extension of AFSPA and removing the PAP restrictions “to facilitate international engagement and development.”

“The Naga people cannot be subjected to perpetual militarization in our lands and isolation from the rest of the world,” the forum stated, urging New Delhi to foster an environment of peace, dignity, and growth in Naga land.

MT