Imphal, December 10: Manipur joined the international community in observing the International Human Rights Day today with the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup taking the responsibility of observing the day by organising a public rally to demand the immediate revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as well as to press the State Govt to adopt an Assembly resolution for the repeal of the same in the forthcoming Winter session.

The public rally started from the ground of the Rising Athletic Union Ground at Lairik Yengbam Leikai and proceeded upto to Hatta Kangjeibung where a massive public meeting was held.

Representatives from the National Campaign Committee Against AFSPA also took part in the public rally.

Held in connection with the International Human Rights Day, the rally converged at Hatta Kangjeibung after passing through Khurai Lamlong bazar, Porompat Ayangpalli road, Old Checkon.

The rallyists raised slogans demanding the revocation of AFSPA and carried placards with the words, "Honour the voice of the people," "Restore right to life to people," "Repeal AFSPA, 1958," "Honour Human Rights and Dignity," etc.

Security was beefed up along the rally route and policemen were out in full force to ensure that the rallyists do not cross into hyper sensitive zones.

Lamlong bazar and Porompat bazar remained closed during the course of the rally.

A public meeting was held at Hatta Kangjeibumg wherein it was resolved t6 press the State Government to pass an Assembly Resolution to repeal AFSPA during the forthcoming Winter session.

The meeting also endorsed the resolutions adopted at the two day convention held on December 8 and 9 on AFSPA at GM Hall and to highlight the demand of the people to immediately revoke the Act from the entire State to the Prime Minister.

Leaders of the Apunba Lup and representatives of the National Campaign Committee Against AFSPA took the dais.

Addressing the meeting, Domin Loya of the NEFA Indigenous Human Rights Organisation, said that there is the pressing need to immediately repeal the AFSPA as this Act has become a tool for the security personnel to trample upon the rights of the civilian population.

Prabia Ram Tika of the Triloklak Sangathan said that the, very act of dubbing Manipur and the North East region as disturbed areas is nothing but pursuing the policies of the Britishers.

The Centre should realise that it is not the public who have disturbed these areas, but the security personnel under AFSPA.

There is no ground for the people to accept the proposal to review or remove the Act but to repeal it completely, he added.

There is no equality and liberty in Manipur and the North East, said AMUCO's advisor, Dr Dhanabir Laishram and added that the imposition of the Act shows there is an undeclared emergency imposed in the region.

Co-ordinator of the Apunba Lup, Babloo Laishram questioned why six months time is needed to review the Act.

Dubbing the decision to review the Act as an attempt to bring about some cosmetic changes, Sujata Badra of the Association of People's Democratic Rights said that such amendments will not fool the public.

On the same plane, Ashok Bharat of Yuva Bharati said that the people have come out against the AFSPA as it has emboldened the security personnel to violate the rights of the public.

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