Remembering August 15 'self immolation'
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 18, 2022 -

Perhaps August 15 is the most significant day for the Republic of India and no doubt, there is a long and glorious story of how India achieved its independence from the British colonial yoke on August 15, 1947.

However, to the people living in its eastern most corner called Manipur, the day never fails to remind one of how the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA 1958 in short tormented the collective psyche of the people for many decades, how the particular Act is used as an instrument of oppression, repression and intimidation in the name of fighting insurgency.

It was on August 15, 2004 Pebam Chittaranjan took the extreme step of self immolation following the brutal rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama in July same year. He died the next day.

This is another significance of August 15, albeit harrowing one, at least to the people of Manipur. Pebam Chittaranjan's sacrifice symbolises the height of Manipuri people's disdain for the dreaded AFSPA.

He sacrificed his young life so that the people of Manipur can live without the fear of AFSPA.

Whether AFSPA goes away or continues to haunt the collective psyche, people will always remember Pebam Chittaranjan fondly who has been given the befitting sobriquet The Human Torch.

One does not need any reminder that AFSPA gives sweeping power to the military forces.

Somebody once commented that people are all living dead where AFSPA is in force as even non-commissioned military personnel can shoot to kill a citizen on mere suspicion.

It was against this back-drop that Chittaranjan wrote in his farewell note "It is better to self immolate than die at the hands of security forces under this Act. With this conviction I am marching ahead of the people as a human torch".

People in this part of the world where AFSPA is being imposed for decades are either sub-humans or living dead, a human rights activist once lamented.

Presenting her report before the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council held at Geneva on June 12, 2014, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Rashida Manjoo, who visited Manipur the previous year, recommended that AFSPA, 1958 should be repealed as a matter of urgency.

However, the Government of India's delegation argued mainly with the operational need of the Army, saying that in some areas it would be necessary to protect armed forces in order to be effective, although there should be no misuse of AFSPA in Manipur.

However, there have been countless instances of gross abuse of the infamous Act.

As a matter of fact, the constitutionality of AFSPA which has its legacy in the British colonial era has been questioned many times at the United Nations and many other international forums but the Government of India sees no fault in enforcing the Act in some selected territories of the country.

By choosing August 15 to end his young life in protest against AFSPA, Pebam Chittaranjan did send a very loud and clear message. But the Government of India again opted to' act dumb and mute.

No doubt, the State Government lifted AFSPA from seven Assembly segments of Imphal Municipal Area on August 12, 2004 following sustained and intense mass agitation against the infamous Act which was sparked by the brutal rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama by the military.

It was a partial but sweet victory for the masses and of course the Human Torch. Again, Irom Sharmila fasted for 16 long years against the same infamous Act but both Imphal and New Delhi chose to act totally indifferent.

It was only on April 1, 2022 that New Delhi decided to lift AFSPA from the areas covered by 15 police stations in the State.

This is another sweet but partial victory for Chittaranjan and Sharmila. But their victory will remain incomplete as long as AFSPA remains operational in any part of the State.

Indeed Pebam Chittaranjan died a martyr for a pause which cannot be less nobler than any other cause.