GNF Demands Revocation of AFSPA Extension and Removal of Protected Area Permit in Nagaland

The decision of the Government of India (GoI) to extend the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA), yet again, for the next six months in Naga homeland is completely unacceptable. AFSPA is fundamentally anti-democratic and anti-people, and its normalization in Naga lands through a six-monthly renewal routine for the last sixty-seven years running does not stand up to scrutiny – political, legal, or moral. It is unconscionable and universally condemnable. 

The ongoing ceasefire between Naga political groups and the Government of India has effectively led to a suspension of armed conflicts in the region. Peace has prevailed for years. Yet, strangely, the Indian government’s response to the peaceful situation has been punitive on the Naga public. Instead of building on the gains of the ceasefire for a more lasting peace by repealing the colonial-era law, as a goodwill gesture, Government of India has repeatedly imposed it in Naga areas, thereby making AFSPA a permanent fixture in the lives of everyday Naga civilians. Despite the ceasefire, the Indian armed forces continue to operate under AFSPA with complete impunity from criminal prosecution, violating Naga people’s human and civil rights including mass killings of innocent civilians. AFSPA has come to represent for the vast majority of Nagas the Indian State’s unending repression of Naga people in their own homeland through military oppression and intimidation. So, the question Naga civil society has for GoI regarding AFSPA boils down to one thing: Does India truly care about the legitimate aspiration and concerns of the Nagas – the long-cherished Naga desire as a people for lasting peace and a dignified future? Is the Indian government committed to justice for the Nagas by fostering genuine dialogue to reach a negotiated peaceful settlement without AFSPA hanging over the heads and haunting our lands?

Naga civil society organizations (CSOs) including the Global Naga Forum have repeatedly voiced our opposition to AFSPA. The extension of AFSPA not only undermines the spirit of the ceasefire, but also contradicts the principles of democratic governance. It is a blatant affront to the aspiration of the Naga people. The continued militarization of our lands under the guise of national security may be a military boon and financial peanuts for Government of India in return for the budgetary support it gives the state of Nagaland, but the Indian armed forces operating under AFSPA in our homeland is a direct assault on our fundamental rights and identity.

Also read | AFSPA Extended in Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh

Removal of Protected Area Permit (PAP) 

In addition to the unjustified extension of AFSPA, the reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) on foreign visitors entering Nagaland is another regressive step that must be revoked immediately. PAP/RAP restrictions create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that deter international visitors, researchers, and well-wishers from experiencing the rich cultural

heritage, hospitality, and natural beauty of the Naga homeland. The RAP is yet another colonial-era relic that isolates the Naga people and restricts opportunities for cultural exchange, economic growth, and international awareness of the Naga struggle. Its continuation is an impediment to tourism and investment, depriving the region of much-needed development and global engagement. We therefore strongly urge the Government of India to lift the RAP restrictions with immediate effect. Allowing free access to foreign visitors will promote greater understanding and solidarity with the Naga people while fostering socio-economic development in the region.

The Naga people cannot be subjected to perpetual militarization in our lands and isolation from the rest of the world. We call upon the Government of India to exhibit political maturity by addressing these genuine concerns and fostering an environment of peace, dignity, and growth, starting with the immediate revocation of the extension of AFSPA in Nagaland and removal of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) to facilitate international engagement and development.  

This is a press release of the Global Naga Forum issued on April 1, 2025