The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Monday asked youths and students to “refrain from taking part” in the Republic Day celebrations in protest against the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

The act gives sweeping powers to the armed forces to search, arrest and shoot to maintain order in areas declared as disturbed under the law.

“The Federation reiterates that the Naga people should disassociate themselves from such celebrations for as long as the Government of India continues with its policy of militarising our Naga homeland. This is not in defiance of any forces on earth but the assertion that the voices of the Naga people cannot be muted despite the continued subjugation by forces reeking of colonial ideologies and practices,” an NSF statement said.

The imposition of the AFSPA from December 30 for six months amid widespread demand for its withdrawal following the death of 14 civilians in a botched encounter on December 4-5 has not gone down well with the Naga community.

Besides Nagaland, the NSF appeal is expected to impact Nagas-inhabited areas in neighbouring Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, sources said.

However, the Nagaland government on Monday released the list of ministers, advisers and MLAs who will unfurl the national flag on Republic Day.

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio will unfurl the flag in the state capital, Kohima.