No alternative and substitute for justice, KU to President of India

February 7, 2022 42 Views No Comment

• Demands speedy justice for the victims of Oting massacre
• Non-cooperation to continue
• Calls for repeal of AFSPA at the earliest

Mon, February 7 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) today asserted that there is no alternative and substitute for justice, and reiterated its demand for speedy justice for the victims of Oting massacre in a representation to the President of India.

In the representation submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Mon, the KU pointed out that the “state of deep anguish and sentiments in our minds has never subsided” since December 4 and 5, 2021.

“What ensued thereafter is the end of the celebration of our very existence under the draconian law that has haunted our right to freedom,” it said.

“We take neither pride nor pleasure in expressing to your humble authority that the resentment against the Indian Army and the Government inaction that has resulted in abstaining from the Republic Day Celebration 2022 by the Konyaks, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), and other tribes of Nagaland and also by different sections in different parts of North-East India,” it pointed out.

Our spirit of celebration and oneness just vanished once again after December 4, 2021, the KU said.

In this connection, the KU stated that the Oting massacre is an “appalling, indelible, and indefensible transgression by the deluded and misguided agents of the Government of India against its own people.”

“Any intent of the Government to protect and justify in favour of the 21 Para Commandos will be untenable against the bare pieces of evidence,” it said, adding that, “Unprovoked and merciless killings of the innocent without any due warning when there is no element of suspicion is a direct insult to the working system of the Indian Army and its intelligent agencies.”

The KU further underscored that the indisposition and failure of the Government to take “action against those involved will not only deepen and ingrain the pain, but it will undeniably shatter the faith and trust of the people in the authority of the Government.”

To this end, the Union once again appealed to the Government of India and the State Government that there is no reason unless otherwise, to delay the Reports of the Court of Inquiry and SIT respectively when the “top Indian Army Officials and the Government of India have already officially admitted the mistake and expressed regrets.”

“When the facts against the 21 Para Commandos and Jawans involved are so evident and accepted by the Government, now, only the law must take its course,” it added.

Accordingly, the KU reiterated its demands that all officers, special commandos, and jawans involved must be arrested immediately with the declaration of their names in public domain so as to process for transparent legal trial.

“The assurance to take appropriate action against the culprits of Oting killings by the top Indian Government Officials, especially by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane, should not become void and fictional,” it stated.

The KU further argued that it is the responsibility of Government of India to manifest to the people of North-East and also to the global community what India really is, and the “Government of the day holds the responsibility to act on this.”

Meanwhile, the representation further informed that Konyak Civil Society Organisations would continue its non-cooperation against the Indian Army, and any Konyak citizen found in violation of this directive “shall also be dealt with as per the Konyak Customary Laws.”

The KU further affirmed that Konyaks shall firmly stand on the side of the history that respects, honours, and values the lives of 14 innocent brothers lost in Oting and aftermath, however, “strong the forces might connive to suppress our movement for justice.”

Until justice is delivered, the Union would be compelled to continue to resent and abstain from any form of national celebrations, it added.

Stating that it “remains persistent on demand for speedy justice for the victims of Oting massacre” and that there no alternative and substitute for justice, the KU “in unison with the rest of the country” also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 at the earliest.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/no-alternative-and-substitute-for-justice-ku-to-president-of-india