Public meet backs repeal AFSPA call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16 2017: A one day public meeting held today at Pureiromba Shanglen, Andro Bazar, Imphal East on 'Democracy and Repealing of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958' endorsed the popular demand for repealing AFSPA from Manipur.

The public meeting was organised by the Human Rights Initiative (HRI) .

Addressing the gathering, HRI executive director Babloo Loitongbam remarked that democracy exists in India just for name's sake.

Imposition of AFSPA in Manipur which gives unbridled powers to security forces that is warranted only at the time of war or external aggression is a matter of shame for a country like India which claims to be a democracy.

Public meet backs repeal AFSPA call

Even though India is said to be a republic and elections are held periodically, it remains a big question whether these elections make India a real republic, Babloo said.

Although it has been more than 75 days that the National Highways connecting Manipur with other parts of the country have been blockaded, security forces have not been utilised so far to address the misery of the masses.

But security forces were quite active when it came to killing people in Manipur under the immunity guaranteed by AFSPA.

None of the elected representatives had ever lobbied or voiced a single stand against continued imposition of AFSPA in Manipur.

Had there been healthy number of elected representatives who could fight boldly for the cause of the masses, people of Manipur would not have ever lived in such a terrified atmosphere.

When it comes to AFSPA, the Central Government is always quick to intervene but they have been refusing to intervene even as a serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the State on account of the prolonged economic blockade on the ground that law and order is a State subject, Babloo decried.

If India is a true republic, imposition of AFSPA in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir can never be vindicated.

However, the Government of India never ever talks about imposition of AFSPA in areas infested by Maoists where violence of much greater scale take place regularly.

This is something the people of North East and JK would like to question the Government of India, Babloo continued.

AFSPA is a draconian law which should not be imposed in any part of the country, he asserted.

People need to elect only those candidates who vow to fight against AFSPA after the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

People need to be far-sighted while electing their representatives, Babloo added.

Poknapham Associate Editor Bijoy Kakchingtabam said that AFSPA has no place in the contemporary world.

People should never give up the fight against AFSPA which allows wanton violation of human rights including the right to life.

Imposition of AFSPA in some selected parts of the country is a misplaced policy of the Government of India, Bijoy said.

A large part of Manipur was gifted away by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Myanmar (Burma) soon after Manipur was merged into the Indian Union.

Apart from gifting away a large part of Manipur to the neighbouring country which is rich in natural resources, Government of India has no intention of bringing development in any part of the North East region, Bijoy said.

The public meeting was graced by Andro Khullakpa Gandhar Meitei and HRI acting chairperson Yumnam Ratankumar as presidium members.