Delhi to witness Anti-AFSPA march today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 29, 2014:
To exert political pressure for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign would join hands with AISA, AIPWA, RYA, DSF, JNUSU, NEFIS, NAPM and other like-minded groups in organizing a joint march against AFSPA from Mandi House metro station to Jantar Mantar at 1 PM tomorrow.
After the march, there will also be a public meeting at Jantar Mantar.
Denounced by many human rights defenders as draconian, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been ruling over eight states in India for the last 60 years.
With its provision of unrestrained power - shoot at sight, arrest without warrant, search and destroy public property on mere suspicion and legal impunity to the armed forces, AFSPA has led to extra-judicial killings, rapes, torture and fake encounters in these states.
There have been countless numbers of protests and demonstrations against this inhuman act.
Irom Chanu Sharmila has also been on an indefintie hunger strike for 14 years now demanding repeal of AFSPA.
While her heroic struggle is challenging the conscience of people across the world, her own Government remains unmoved.
Almost all major parties in the country have also remained silent about the everyday horror in these states.