Source: Oken Jeet Sandham
Nagoan (Assam), Sept 18 (NEPS):
Over ten organizations of Assam's Nagoan district have today organized a huge public rally here expressing their solidarity with the people of Manipur on the ongoing demand to revoke the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the State.
The organizations that included CPI (ML), Nagoan District, Hojai Meirapaibee Lup, Hojai, All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA), Nagoan District have also submitted a memorandum to Indian Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, through DC, Nagoan.
They ralliests have strongly demanded to withdraw the AFSPA from Manipur as well as entire north eastern region and also punish the guilty Assam Rifles personnel involved in the "rape and murder" of Th Manorama in Manipur.
Urging the Government of India to fulfill the demands of Manipuri people, the organizations also strongly demanded the authorities to immediately stop "repressive tactics" of Police on the people's democratic movement in Manipur and northeastern region.
They have also demanded the Government to release Lantuk Fangsu of Karbi Anglong without any condition at the earliest.
Leaders of the organizations have strongly criticized the dilly-dallying tactics of the Government of India in fulfilling the demands of the Manipur people.
Addressing the huge rally, Mrinal Nath of the AIPWA, Nagoan District said the security forces had been constantly harassing women in the name of counter-insurgency not only in Manipur but also in the region.
"We have to strengthen the hands of Manipur people at this juncture and collectively fight against inhuman activities of the security forces," she stated.
"The Government of India has turned a deaf ear to the two-month long agitations in Manipur and we, as neighbors, will extend all possible assistance to them (Manipur people) till the goal is achieved".
The AIPWA leader also said the people of Manipur starting from Bir Tikendrajit to Th Manoram have been the victims of the excesses of the security forces and further warned that they would even go "Pebam Chittaranajan (who had self-immolated)" way if "situation demands".
Another CPM (ML) leader Anup Kumar Mahanta also said the Manorama fate might befall on their children too in future if they didn't uproot the AFSPA from the region completely.
Karam Ongbi Saraswati of Hojai Meirapaibee Lup, during the rally, reaffirmed their commitment to fight against the AFSPA that gives special powers to the security forces to do anything at their will.