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-The Telegraph
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The activists of North East Students' Organisation (Neso) today staged demonstrations in all the states demanding immediate updating of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
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In Guwahati, the activists of All Assam Students' Union (AASU), a constituent body of Neso, staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan at Uzan Bazararmed with placards stating &quot;Northeast cannot be dumping ground of illegal migrants,&quot; &quot;Seal Assam-Bangla border&quot; and &quot;Implement Assam Accord&quot;.
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Neso adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya, after participating in the protests, told The Telegraph that the NRC must be updated in all states of the region to safeguard the identity of the indigenous communities.
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He said the 1951 NRC was prepared in undivided Assam, which comprised Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. &quot;Since the problem of illegal migration has also posed a threat to the identity of local people in other states of the region, the NRC has to be updated there also.&quot;
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Bhattacharyya said it would be wrong to presume that Assam was the only state in the region threatened by illegal influx.
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&quot;The Assam government has promised to start updating the NRC soon. While Neso will adopt a wait-and-watch policy in case of Assam, pressure will be put on the governments of the other states to prepare the same,&quot; he said.
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Bhattacharyya demanded that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act be repealed in the Northeast because of its draconian provisions.
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Besides the army act, Neso has also demanded repeal of National Security Act, 1980, Punjab Security Act, 1953 and the Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous District), Act, 1953.
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The students' organisation wants the Centre to illustrate political boldness in bringing all the armed groups of the region to the negotiating table.
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In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the governors of the states, the Neso stated that violation of human rights had taken place because of the policy of military intervention in political matters. &quot;Hence, Neso demands that political issues be dealt politically,&quot; the memorandum, signed by Neso chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa, stated.
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The demand assumes significance after the Centre had indicated that militants better surrender as a plan was in the offing not to entertain any more talks with any rebelgroup operating in any part of the country, including the Northeast.
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On January 5 in Shillong, joint secretary (Northeast), ministry of home affairs, Shambhu Singh, said, &quot;Let me be very candid with you: we might take a decision that we shall no longer hold talks with any group, anywhere. It is in the pipeline.&quot;
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Moreover, the students' organisation demanded that the Centre should demonstrate its sincerity and commitment to all the ongoing political dialogues with different armed groups of the Northeast.
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The other demands include granting of special constitutional status to the Northeast, creation of a separate time zone for the region, putting in place an education policy which is relevant to the people of the Northeast, opening up of more border haats, especially with China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, framing of a sustainable eco-system and action plan on climate change, opening of Stilwell Road, making the Northeast a special employment zone and setting up of a common boundary commission to resolve all inter-state boundary conflicts.
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<em>ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ANDREW W. LYNGDOH IN SHILLONG</em>
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