Negative impacts of AFSPA dissected
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, December 02 2013 : Maintaining that implementation of AFSPA 1958 is indirectly depleting human resources which is necessary for development of human race, M.Sobita, Secretary of Women Action for Development (WAD) has stated that it would be rightful step to uproot the Act if the State wants to check crimes upon women and children.

Sobita, who was speaking at a discussion session on the topic of "Drugs Trade, Crimes against Women and AFSPA 1958", as part of the ongoing International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence against Women, at Manipur Press Club here today, highlighted on the issues of "Drugs and Violence against Women" .

Sobita said that illegal drug trafficking and extra judicial killings should be checked by the Government of India so that such crimes can be controlled and reduced immediately. Demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, she said that even though this Act was imposed to improve the law and order situation of the State, it has been unsuccessful in its objective.

Instead, the probability of crimes and insecurity in the State has increased among the people.

In such a situation, it would be the right step to uproot the draconian Act from the State as further delay may cause hindrance to the lives of people of the State causing danger to women and children.

Secretary of UNM-M U Nobokishore

Through the Act, more killings, rape and extortion are predominantly increasing day by day.

As such, innocent people, who could be great manpower to the nation, are lost in the hands of security personnel who unnecessarily exercise their powers", maintained Sobita.

Continuing her speech, Sobita stated that proliferation of drugs in Manipur is closely related to prolonged imposition of AFSPA.

Crimes upon women are more prone to happen when men use drugs which stimulate their body to carry out crime.

Security forces tempt drug users and non drug users by importing drugs into the State under the shield provided under AFSPA which is very unfortunate.

This attempt by security forces has arisen from the realization that only gun culture will not empower them.

Using drug as a means to manipulate the people of the State to rule out their wish has been their motive, she asserted.

The number of security personnel employed to protect the people of the state is huge.

Even though the ratio maintained for security forces to public in Manipur is 1:27 compared to that of Myanmar which is 1:100, the State's security force has been unsuccessful in maintaining law and order, thereby endangering the life of civilians, women and children, she maintained.

Regarding the loopholes seen in the State's law and order situation, Sobita made an urge to the Government of Manipur to increase more rehabilitation centres for women who are mostly victims of AFSPA.

Earlier, giving the keynote address, Chaoba Takhenchangbam, senior co-ordinator of Centre for Social Development (CSD) said that the rate of using of drugs in the state has increased after the Central Government's imposition of AFSPA 1958 in the State allowing allocation of more Central funds.

With the Central budget increasing, drugs were available to the people, thus making the state more prone to this illegal habit and giving rise to more drug addicts, sex workers and extortionists, he alleged.

Around 80,000 people are in the habit of using drugs on an everyday basis, he pointed out.

Adding to the worry, it is very disheartening to learn that around 2000 hectares of land in the state are under poppy plant cultivation from which drugs are manufactured, he added. The fortnight observation has been jointly organized by Women Action for Development (WAD), Centre for Social Development (CSD), United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNM-M), People's Platform Secretariat (PPS) North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) and Survivors Action for Human Rights Manipur (SAHRM) .

Other speakers of the function included U.Nobokishor, secretary of UNM-M who spoke on "Illegal Drug Trade in Manipur and AFSPA, 1958" and Dr.RK Lenin, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatric, RIMS, Imphal, who highlighted on "Drug Abuse and Mental Health Status among the women in Manipur" .