KOHIMA, Dec 4: In remembrance of the tragic Oting Massacre, where 14 innocent civilians were killed on December 4, 2021, the Global Naga Forum (GNF) issued a statement condemning the heinous crime committed by the Indian Army under the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The massacre remains a painful and indelible scar on the collective conscience of the Naga people.

The GNF expressed outrage over the Union Home Minister’s dismissive remarks in Parliament, where the massacre was labeled as an act of “mistaken identity,” a statement they argue defies both justice and humanity. The forum also condemned the Supreme Court of India’s rejection of the Nagaland government’s petition seeking the prosecution of those responsible for the killings, describing it as a systemic failure to hold the perpetrators accountable.

“Such actions not only disregard the pain and loss endured by the victims’ families but also perpetuate a culture of impunity,” the GNF statement read. The forum extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, whose grief is compounded by the government’s failure to deliver justice.

“As we remember the lives of the innocent taken on that fateful day, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand with the families in their quest for truth and justice,” the forum said. It also highlighted the Oting massacre as a stark reminder of the urgent need to repeal AFSPA, a law that has been a source of violence and oppression in Nagaland and the Northeast.

The GNF called on citizens and institutions in India to rise against such state-sanctioned atrocities, demanding accountability, justice, and respect for human dignity. “Justice delayed must not become justice denied. Let the cry for justice from Oting echo across the nation and awaken its conscience,” the forum appealed.

The Oting Massacre continues to be a painful chapter in Nagaland’s history, with families and advocates calling for truth, justice, and the repeal of AFSPA to prevent further atrocities.