CSCHR welcomes the historic and far-sighted judgement
Imphal, 20 August 2014
CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MANIPUR AND THE UN
The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR), a coalition of twenty-four (24)
indigenous peoples’ human rights organizations of Manipur in India’s North East region, welcomes the
historic and far-sighted judgement and orders passed on 19 August 2014 by the District and Sessions Court
of Imphal East District of Manipur for the immediate release of Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been
continuously on a fast since 2000 for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 as victory of
her and the people of Manipur’s moral and political stance.
The court has decreed that her imprisonment
under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code is not supported by any evidence that she is “attempting to
commit suicide” and clearly pointing to her intention “in surviving to continue her mission of repealing
AFSPA to reach its logical conclusion”, and that her “agitation is a political demand through a lawful means
of repealing” the draconian law.
The Coalition would like to stress that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 facilitated extensive
militarization in all indigenous peoples land and territories of Manipur. The Government of India refused to
repeal the Act inspite of the recommendations of series of UN human rights bodies, including the UN Special
Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo during her visit to Manipur in 2013.
The Coalition denounces the serious human rights violations, in particular torture and extrajudicial
executions, perpetrated both by the Manipur Police along with the Indian Army under several emergency
legislations, including the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act), 1958 all over the State of Manipur. The Justice
(retd.) Santosh Hedge headed high-level Commission appointed by the Supreme Court of India had already
confirmed the fake encounter killings perpetrated both by the Manipur Police and the Indian Army and
paramilitary units operating in Manipur.
The Government of Manipur usually resorts to violent repressive measures, including prolonged invocation
of Section 144 prohibiting conglomeration of 5 or more people under Code of Criminal Procedure, arbitrary
detention and torture of human rights defenders throughout the State of Manipur, and in particular within
the Valley districts.
The CSCHR fully endorses the appeal of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Asian
Indigenous Peoples’ Pact (AIPP) for the immediate withdrawal of CrPC Section 144 that has been invoked in
and around Ukhrul in Manipur for more than a month, and to end all forms of militarization and martial law
governance.
The Coalition would like to urge upon the Government of Manipur to immediately withdraw the invocation
of sections of CrPC in Ukhrul Town in the last month and the imposition of the similar restrictions in Imphal
East and West Districts since the last more than one decade, and to end all forms of militarization in all
indigenous peoples territories of Manipur under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. The coalition
would like to urge upon the Governments of Manipur State and India to repeal the Armed Forces (Special
Powers) Act, 1958 and other emergency laws and policies in Manipur.
(Dr Laifungbam D Roy)
Convenor
* This PR was sent to e-pao.net by Michael Haokip (President, TSA-B ) who can be contacted at tmlh77(aT)outlook(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on August 21 2014
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