UN Human Rights Council to be sounded on AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2012: A five-point recommendation which would be sent to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of its second cycle Universal Public Review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 was released today at Manipur Press Club here.

The recommendations listed by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights (CSCHR) in Manipur and the UN included considering the withdrawal of reservations to the international human rights treaties and other international human rights instruments, including Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, accede to Additional Protocols I and II, 1977 of the Geneva conventions, and give unconditional access to the International Committee of the Red Cross to Manipur.

To take up appropriate measures to repeal AFSPA from Manipur was the second recommendation.

The third recommendation was, resolving the armed conflict in Manipur politically rather than adopting military stance.

To take appropriate measures to protect human rights defenders in Manipur and implement the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1999 was another recommendation.

The fifth recommendation was to adopt and ratify the ILO Convention No 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal peoples in Independent Countries, which succeeded ILO Convention No 107 that has been ratified by India.

Speaking at the occasion, CSCHR convenor Laifungbam Debabrata informed that director of Human Rights Alert Babloo and CCDD secretary Y Jiten have already reached Geneva to lobby with the UN for the five recommendations.

The list of recommendations would be presented before the Universal Period Review AFSPA was first enforced in the form of an ordinance on May 22, 1958.It became an Act on September 11, the same year.

For the past 54 years, people have been protesting against the draconian Act in different parts of the country, more particularly and vehemently in Manipur.

The CSCHR which is a conglomerate of 18 different civil organisations and human rights groups has geared up to further intensify the anti-AFSPA campaign, Debabrata said.

Generally, the universal review meeting is held every four years during which reports submitted by different civil organisations are studied.

The review reports would be studied by the UN Human Rights Council before they can be passed as covenants by the UN General Assembly.

On the other hand, Sharmila who has been fasting against the infamous Act for the last 11 years re-asserted that she could not accept any form of human rights violation in a democratic country.

She also decried the restrictions imposed by the Government against people who wish to visit her.

She stated that even if she is seen as convict, she must have the right to meet her family, friends, relatives and well-wishers.

The function held at Manipur Press Club was also attended by Life Watch chief functionary A Araba and FREINDS secretary Joy Chingakham.

Comment