GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
Ministry of Information and Publicity
PRESS STATEMENT
Hebron, 18th May, 2020
There is a state bordering China where everything is not going right. This is Arunachal Pradesh, a state in Northeast India where many awful things are happening. Arunachal Pradesh is a state comprising of many tribes. Nagas are one among those tribes. But, in the quietness of the world where a battle is going on against Covid19 pandemic, there is a battle against human rights violation in Longding district where the Indian security forces is giving a hell of time to the innocent villagers.
In solidarity with WHO (World Health Organization) to follow safety protocol, lockdown was in place all over India. Arunachal Pradesh is no exception in the fight against Covid19 because this infectious and novel Corona virus knows no race or culture, neither knows borders. But, in the stillness of the lockdown, the 19th Sikh Regiment is recklessly moving about in villages in Longding district (Wancho Region) targeting innocent villagers and torturing them for the reason never specified. In the latest incident, Pumoa village was the target.
On 14th May, 2020 one Mr. Nokchai Wangsu of Pumoa village was picked up by the 19th Sikh Regiment and beaten up like animal. Before he was released he was made to sign a paper without disclosing the content of the paper. He was also threatened not to reveal this incident to anyone. The flashpoint was on 15th May, 2020 when another villager of Pumoa, Mr. Jempho Wamgpan was picked up when he was returning from church. He was inhumanly tortured for no clear reason. To stop such abhorrent incidents the villagers decided to settle the score in a peaceful manner and invited the Indian army personnel to join the meeting on 16th May, 2020. But, as the meeting progressed touching the core of the human right violation the army personnel blushed and hurriedly started leaving the meeting. Thereafter, a commotion broke out as villagers stood up in anger not ready to accept the indignity. Some of the infuriated youths started pelting stones at the army personnel. The army under the command of Col. DK. Tiwari of 19 Sikh Regiment wasted no time to retaliate with live bullets, leading to the killing of one Mr. Lamdan Lukham on the spot and injuring six others.
The PRO (Defense) in its press release dragged in the name of NSCN’s firing that led to the melee. This is nothing less than a hilarious statement to absolve itself from the criminal assault on innocent villagers. The Indian security forces taking shelter under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is shamelessly finding luxury to find its way to ablutions.
National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) strongly deplores such act of cowardice on the part of 19th Sikh Regiment leading to the loss of innocent life.
For daring to stand up for their right against the brutality of Indian security forces, we salute the villagers of Pumao and express our condolences to the family members of (L) Mr. Lamdan Lukham and to all villagers of Pumoa. We are leaving no stone unturned to make the world hear of the human rights violation in Longding district and other places in Arunachal Pradesh. We are in solidarity with the organizations fighting for the just cause of the Pumoa people. We shall let the world know that your gesture of peace has been responded with live bullets.
As a matter of ignoring the plight of the Arunachal people, the mainstream media more often than not sidelined the human right issue to be in tune with the Indian military propaganda. The approach of mainstream media on human rights violation issue against the Naga people need to be reinvented and henceforth must start playing impartial role to arrest the cause of alienation that may follow if mishandled by media.
MIP, NSCN/GPRN