Campaign for the Repeal of AFSPA - 14th November 2009
PR from "People's Alliance for the Repeal of AFSPA"

14th November 2009, New Delhi

Speakers at a public meeting organized by several organizations jointly demanded a total repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. In a resolution passed by the assembly of people at the public meeting they further demanded that no piecemeal solutions will be accepted and that no part of the law should be put into any other legislation.

The meeting was organized to discuss the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern states and the various statements being made by different state authorities on the AFSPA. The speakers while discussing the reports and recommendations of some of the committees and commissions set up by the central government said that there has been a recent trend of putting the draconian provisions of repealed laws into general legislation thereby making the inhuman nature of these laws invisible. Speakers asserted that such machinations are not going to help the situation in the country.

Parveena Ahenger of Association of Parents of Disappeared People (APDP) from Kashmir said that the Act has thwarted the process of justice and it should be undone and an independent commission should be set up to investigate into all violations by the security forces since the imposition of the Act. Responding to this Uma Chakravarty who chaired the public meeting said the way Indian establishment causally talks about terrorism shows that it is willing to set aside the Rule of Law. She said there is a lot of talk of dialogue to solve political issues but there are no efforts to build confidence among people. Dialogue is being offered by the highest level of Indian political establishment.

Nisar Ali Mir of Jammu & Kashmir Trade Union Centre said the security forces are present in civilian areas everywhere. This has caused severe restriction of movement of ordinary people there. At the same time question that arises is that why has the Army and other central paramilitary forces been used in the northeast? These forces together with the Manipur state police continue to harass people with impunity. 55 million people in India continue to live under army boots Babloo Loitongbam called upon all democratic forces to jointly launch a campaign against these polices of the Indian state.

Anjum Zamruda of Muslim Khawateen Markaz deplored that the only thing the Indian state has given is 600,000 soldiers of security forces. They have occupied prime lands in Jammu and Kashmir and school buildings and other public structures. She said we have suffered on account of the Kashmir dispute. Anjum recounted her experiences during her incarceration and it has strengthened her commitment to fight for justice. People of the northeastern states are also suffering from same repression of indian rule. She said we kashmiris are in solidarity with the suffering people of the northeast.

Anjali Daimari of Bodo Womens Justice Forum said even to this day the practice of fake encounters is widely practiced by the Assam police and security forces. She recounted her own personal tragedy on account of draconian laws. She was put under TADA under false allegations and she lost her family to bomb blast. Recently she was fired upon while she was coming out of a college where she taught.

Tapan Bose of South Asian Forum for Human Rights said AFSPA reverses the normal principles of policing. It allows for use of maximum force contrary to minimum force to deal with civil unrest. He said the threat perception of the indian state in these areas of AFSPA is not so much any military threat. It rather fears the politics of the people of these regions. He said it is the army in these regions that takes all decisions. He deplored that none of the peace agreements in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast since 1950 have even been implemented.

He further said AFSPA operates in conjunction with other draconian laws like Public Safety Act, Essential Services Maintenance Act and Disturbed Areas Act etc. Dr Venuh of Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights deplored that the government of India is dragging its feet on establishing long term peace with the Nagas. He said during fifty years of repression by the Indian army no Naga village has been spared women had to hide in forests. Babloo Loitongbam of Manipur said in the current conflict in the areas of Maoist influence the Prime Minister declared that the army will not be used. We welcome and appreciate this policy of the government but discussed in the parliament.

Read the full resolution here (PDF - 19 KB ).

People's Alliance for the Repeal of AFSPA
Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP)
All Twipra Indigenous & Minority Association (ATIMA)
Boro Women Justice Forum (BWJF)
Campaign for Peace & Democracy, Manipur (CPDM)
Centre for Law Development (CLD)
Human Rights Alert
Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
Jammu & Kashmir Trade Union Centre
Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA)
Manipur Student's Association Delhi (MSAD)
Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM)
Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR)
Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM )
New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
Saheli Women's Resource Centre
Samindar Karbi Anime
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Bipin Kumar
Campaign & Advocacy Desk
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