Ukhrul rights activists cry for ASFPA to go
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, September 11 2014:
On the day Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) attained 56 years of its enforcement in the country, the human rights activists and senior citizens in Ukhrul district joined the rest of others in lending their voice to the cry for repealing the "draconian law" and restoration of democratic rights to the people.
A group of human rights workers and senior citizens, under the aegis of Ramungo Library Group, pitched up their anti-AFSPA campaign today when the imposition of "draconian law" in the seven states of India's northeast completed 56 years.
"During these nightmarish years�it (AFSPA) has brought untold miseries to the helpless and innocent people," said senior activist Hungyohong.
"The Act has become counter-productive today with a lot more armed resistance groups coming up in the region �", he stated.
The group opined that the entire NE must come together to fight against this 'black law' that claimed many lives, sexual abuses, tortures, disappearances and destruction amongst others.
Revd.
.MLuiram, a member of Tangkhul Senior Citizens' Forum, rued how the people in the region have been abused by this Act and cited instances of human rights violation on the pretext of
counter-insurgency movement.
Lauding the effort of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who have been championing the cause of anti-AFSPA campaign, Luiram felt that there should be more of such 'Iron Lady of Manipur' in NE to stand up with courage against the deprivation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution for its citizens.
The group also opined that a more intense effort should be extended by Tangkhul civil societies towards the campaign against the Act.
Elucidating that the sanctioning of extra-constitutional power to the armed forces for such a long period of years is irrational, the Ukhrul based rights workers believe it would only weaken the world largest democracy.
Hungyohong iterated that "there are other Acts and Bills which are harsh enough and may be more effective in dealing with insurgency movement than this inhuman Act" .