DIMAPUR, July 2 - The Naga Hoho today criticised the Central Government for extension of the �disturbed area� tag in the entire State of Nagaland by six months. On June 30, the Centre had declared the entire Nagaland State as a disturbed area for a further period till December-end.
The Naga Hoho, in a press release, stated that with this declaration, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has been extended in Nagaland again. It is unfortunate that the �Government of India fails to take into account the ground reality but rather chooses to dehumanize the Naga people by using the most inhuman Act�, the Naga Hoho said.
�It is only a means to terrorize and create fear among innocent people,� the Naga Hoho statement added. �When the State has been declared peaceful, what is the necessity to impose this most unwanted law in the region?� it asked.
The Naga Hoho also said that the �imposition� of the Act has only proved the �iron hand of India and militarization against the Naga people�.
According to the Naga Hoho, the past decades have proved beyond doubt that, through this �demonic law�, human rights have been abused and fundamental rights of citizens have been violated by the security forces.
�This inhuman law has lost its relevance in a civilised society and its applicability has no place in the modern world and therefore, this law must be repealed if the Government of India truly honours the peace process and a peaceful solution to the long Indo-Naga political talks,� said the Naga Hoho release.
