Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on December 9 said that the Oting firing incident was a misuse and abuse of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958.
A tribute programme for the Oting tragedy was held on December 9 at the Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima.
Rio added that the act is violative of human rights and the Naga people have opposed it for decades.
CM Neiphiu Rio expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the 14 victims.
He also urged the public to remain strong and courageous, and appealed not to retaliate. He said that it is the time to defeat violence with non-violence and asked the people to shun away from violence and show the nation that AFSPA is not needed.
He added that the society cannot allow any force to derail the hard-won peace process. The chief minister hoped that the country and the rest of the world will not only understand the Nagas’ story but also the want for lasting peace.
Former chief minister, TR Zeliang, called for repeal of AFSPA stating that it brought only pain and suffering. He said that no amount of reason can justify the killing of innocent civilians and urged the government to leave no stones unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Zeliang said that when the Nagas are anticipating the final breakthrough in the Naga political issue, the Oting incident had come as a rude shock.
President of Konyak Union Kohima, H Angnyei Konyak, shed light on the Oting incident. He called for revocation of AFSPA adding that the country does not want to see another Oting incident. Konyak expressed his gratitude at the solitary shown by various sections of the society.
