Aligning with the position of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) on the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), the Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) has issued a strong directive to all its constituent units for strict compliance. The directives included the active advocacy for repeal of the draconian act, restriction on collaboration with Indian Armed Forces and monitoring.
In its directive, the LSU reminded on the 1st Naga Students Federation (NSF) Federal Assembly held on November 25, 2023, for the tenure 2023-2025, where the house resolved that all federating units must restrict their members from engaging in any form of collaboration with the Indian engaging Armed Forces within educational institutions and during student-related events. This resolution, according to LSU, reaffirmed the stance adopted in the 2nd NSF Federal Assembly (tenure 2021-2022), underscoring the collective commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of our people.
“The AFSPA has been a longstanding source of hardship and injustice for innocent citizens in our homeland. The act grants excessive powers to the armed forces, often resulting in severe human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and unwarranted harassment of civilians. The presence of AFSPA in our region continues to foster an environment of fear and oppression, obstructing the path to peace and development,” asserted the LSU.
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In this regard, the LSU issued the directive to all the constituent units for strict compliance:
- Active Advocacy for Repeal of AFSPA:
All units are to actively advocate for the repeal of AFSPA from our Naga homeland. This includes organizing awareness campaigns, collaborating with other civil society organizations, and engaging with local and national authorities to amplify our unified voice against this draconian law.
- Restriction on Collaboration with Indian Armed Forces:
Effective immediately, all constituent units must ensure that their members refrain from any collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces within educational institutions and during student-related events. This includes but is not limited to participation in events organized or sponsored by the armed forces, and any form of endorsement of support for military activities within academic settings.
- Monitoring and Compliance:
Each constituent unit is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with this directive. Reports on actions taken and compliance status should be submitted to the LSU office.
