DIMAPUR, April 7: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has reaffirmed its stance against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), issuing a directive to all its federating units and subordinate bodies to strictly enforce the Federation’s long-standing policy of total non-cooperation with the Indian armed forces.
The latest directive from the NSF comes in response to the Government of India’s decision to extend AFSPA across various districts and police station jurisdictions in Naga-inhabited areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the extension through notification S.O. 1536(E) dated March 30, 2025, effective from April 1 for another six-month period.
In a press release issued on Monday, the NSF stated that, “Until AFSPA is repealed in toto, we urge every Naga student body to abstain from participating in any joint programmes, civic action initiatives, or ceremonial events involving armed forces personnel. Compliance with this policy is not just a protest but a moral and political obligation to uphold the rights and future of our people.”
The NSF described the extension of AFSPA as an unjust and regressive move, one that disregards the prevailing ground realities and undermines the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue. “The Naga people have, time and again, demonstrated our desire for peace and political resolution through dialogue and non-violence. Yet, the Government of India continues to militarise our land and impose colonial-era laws that empower security forces with impunity to commit atrocities without accountability,” the statement read.
Highlighting the long-term impact of AFSPA on Naga society, the NSF pointed to a legacy of fear, trauma, and rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, unlawful detentions, and erosion of civil liberties. “AFSPA has inflicted untold pain, trauma, and fear in the hearts of countless Naga families. Its extension, in this day and age, is not only an insult to the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue but also a deliberate provocation against our people’s collective call for peace and justice,” it noted.
The Federation reiterated its demand for the immediate and complete repeal of AFSPA from the Naga homeland, emphasizing that “no true peace can prevail where laws of occupation and militarisation continue to exist.”
In reaffirming its policy, the NSF emphasized that the call for total non-cooperation is not merely symbolic, but a form of active resistance. “Compliance with this policy directive is not merely an act of protest, but a moral and political duty to protect the future of the Naga people,” the Federation stated.
