Imphal, December 01: Taking a firm stand not to compromise on its demand for the complete repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State, the one day convention organised by the Apunba Lup on the theme, "Women's role in fight against AFSPA" today adopted a three point resolution after a marathon discussion at the MDU hall.

As agreed during the convention, the Apunba Lup said that the proposal of the Government of India to review the said Act or to replace it with another Act will not be acceptable.

The Convention also resolved that to take the fight forward and galvanise the public, the women folk will be at the forefront of the struggle and agitation and also to oppose any Act that violates and has the potential to violate the rights of the people of Manipur.

The Convention started with the dais members taking the seat.

On the dais were the president of the All Manipur Social Reformation and Development Samaj K Taruni, president of IMMA RK Khuman Leima, president of All Manipur Tammi-Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup S Ibemhal, AMKIL president N Sorojini, president of Kuki Mothers' Association Prof Rose Mangshi, RK Ranendrajit, former member of MHRC Kh Chonjohn and Dean of Students' Welfare, MU Prof W Nabakumar.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof Nabakumar said that the demand of the people is the complete revocation of AFSPA from Manipur and no compromise formula will be accepted.

Laws and Acts are enacted with the stated objective of protecting the rights and properties of the citizens, but the AFSPA has done nothing except violate the basic human rights of the people, he noted.

As such it is natural for the people to demand the scrapping of such a draconian Act, he added.

Kh Chonjohn in his address said that AFSPA violates the basic rights to life guaranteed in the Constitution of India and added that the time has come for all to come out and protest against the continued imposition of such an Act in the region.

Kangla may have been given back to the people of Manipur by the Prime Minister but he had failed to give the right to live to the people, said RK Ranendrajit.

MU may have been converted to a Central University but that still does not guarantee that students have the right to life, said Ranendrajit and added that such sops should not befool the people, who have been denied their basic rights for long.

Speakers after speakers recalled the self immolation of Pebam Chittaranjan to demand the revocation of the Act, the nude protest by women folk at Kangla, the death of K Memita and the hunger strike launched by Irom Sharmila Chanu for the last four years.

A large number of women folks from different parts of the State and representatives of clubs, organisations and others turned up for the Convention today.

The Lup said that the Convention was held on the basis of the charter of rights enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights to which India is also a signatory.

The rights of a people encompasses the right to lead a dignified life free from fear and harassments but the AFSPA which has been in force here for the last many years have rendered the rights of the people redundant.

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