Consultation on Human Rights with special reference to AFSPA
22nd October, 2014
We have had a very successful consultation on AFSPA in Shillong yesterday. Unfortunately I could not send you the news yesteday as the discussion went on till the evening. It is impressive that even though the people of Meghalaya have not suffered the brunt of AFSPA some 250 student, teachers, activist actively participated in the consultation and showed their solidairty and concen for the fellow North Easterners who have suffered under AFSPA.
It was North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) that organized the one day North East Consultation on Human Rights with special reference to Armed Forces Special Powers Act at the Shillong Club, Shillong; with Khashi Students’ Union (KSU) as the local host.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ex-meghalaya-bureaucrat-calls-for-repealing-afpsa-114102101094_1.html
http://www.morungexpress.com/regional/123394.html
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141022/jsp/northeast/story_18951068.jsp#.VEdCp1fF-ho
http://www.easternchronicle.net/index.php?city=4&edition=22102014
http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2014/10/22/cry-for-repeal-of-black-laws-gets-louder/
http://www.meghalayatimes.info/index.php/front-page/27387-afspa-1958-fails-to-prescribe-the-duration-of-its-operation-gp-wahlang
NORTH EAST STUDENTS’ ORGANISATION (N.E.S.O.)
RESOLUTION
North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) with support from Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) organized a ‘North East Consultation on Human Rights: Soliciting People’s Opinion on Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958’ on the 21th October 2014 at Shillong Club, Shillong. Mr. G. P. Wahlang (IAS), former Chief Information Commissioner of Meghalaya was the Chief Guest.
During the inaugural session Mr. Auguster Jyrwa, General Secretary of Khasi Students’ Union welcomed the participants, Mr. Sinam Prakash, Secretary General, NESO delivered keynote address and Mr. Samuel Jyrwa, Chairman, NESO also spoke. Rev Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh moderated the panel discussion where Advocate Alester Diengdoh, Rev. PBM Basaiawmoit and Babloo Loitongbam, human rights defender spoke as resource person in the working session.
After a thread bare discussion, the consultation unanimously resolves as follows:
1. To demand the repeal of AFSPA and similar draconian state laws like the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act.
2. To sensitize the student community of the North East on the human rights consequences of the prolonged imposition of AFSPA in the region.
3. To translate the AFSPA text and other related literature into vernacular languages in order to deepen the understanding by the communities.
4. To demand the establishment and effective functioning of human rights institutions like the National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission, Women’s Commission, Right to Information Commission etc. in all the North Eastern States to protect the human rights of the people.
5. To pressure the Members of Parliament from the North East region to raise the issue to repeal AFSPA in the Parliament.
6. To ensure that the issue of repeal of AFSPA in the list of priorities of NESO.
Yours Sincerely,
( Mr Samuel Jyrwa)
Chairman, NESO
(Rev. Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh)
Chairperson, Concluding Session
* This PR was sent to e-pao.net by Babloo Loitongbam who can be contacted at bloitongbam(at)gmail(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on October 23 2014
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