Rosemary Dzuvichu and President Mrs. Abeiu Meru
Naga Mothers’ Association
Nagaland

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 24th February regarding the threat received by Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichu and Mrs. Abeiu Meru. Dr. Rosemary is an advisor to the Naga Mothers’ Association and was at the forefront in the legal battle against the protests which blocked the urban local body elections in Nagaland.
NMA has been playing a very critical role in /Nagaland in bringing 33% reservation to women in urban local bodies as per the 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution. A few tribal bodies of Nagaland including Naga Hoho had opposed the decision of the state government to conduct the elections by February 1, 2017. JCC members representing 17 major tribes of Nagaland threatened the women candidates with a social boycott if they contest elections. They threatened NMA advisor and president to burn down their houses.
The long-overdue provision of the reservation bill, passed in 2006, had been on the sidelines owing to opposition from powerful traditional institutions. The Angami Youth Organisation and the Angami Public Organisation took to the streets to oppose the reservation. The organisation had instructed all Angami villages to send volunteers, who would march to the
offices where nominations were being accepted, so as to prevent candidates from filing nominations.
HRDA had appealed to the NHRC to ensure the safety of the members of the Naga Mothers’ Association and their family members especially the women candidates, campaigners, supporters, voters pre and post-elections. Also, that an enquiry in the cases of threat should be set up.