Dimapur, October 21 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has strongly condemned what it termed as the “inhumane” drone strike carried out on October 20 allegedly targeting the Naga village of Khammoi (Khenmoi-Loiyi), East Konyak Region across the “so-called international boundary” the East Konyak Region of Myanmar.
The strike, reportedly conducted by the Indian Armed Forces , the evening of October 20 at around 6:30 PM IST resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries to several others, including children, women, and elderly men, the GNF stated in its condemnation.
According to GNF, the deceased included a 7-year-old Grade-1 student at Khammoi Mission School and a 27-year-old Joint Secretary of the Khammoi Students’ Union.
Stating that all the victims were “innocent noncombatants,” the forum described the attack as “brutal and unprovoked” and said it constitutes a “gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
It also noted that this is the second reported drone strike on a Naga village this year, asserting a pattern of cross-border attacks on Naga communities beyond the imposed international boundary.
“Its silence reveals a harsh truth that because we are Nagas and not ethnic Burmese, our lives are treated with indifference,” it added.
To this end, the GNF called upon the United Nations and international human rights bodies to investigate the incident and hold the “Government of India accountable for violating international law.”
It also expressed concern over the lack of response from the Government of Myanmar, urging it to take a principled stand on the violation of its territorial sovereignty.
The forum further appealed to human rights defenders, democratic governments, and civil society to support an “independent international investigation into the October 20 drone strike and other cross-border violations.”
It extended condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with the injured and the entire Khammoi village community.
“We denounce this unjustifiable act of state violence and demand truth, accountability, and justice,” it added.
