Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, August 28:
The apex body of 32 organizations from Manipur and Committee for the Repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act today staged a demonstration here demanding immediate repeal of the controversial Act, urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take immediate action on it.
"The experience of the 46 years of operation of this law has amply demonstrated the crimes that have been committed against the people".
"It has shown that this law can only give sanction to abuses by the armed forces; it cannot solve political issues rather its operation can only create alienation and undermine democracy," a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister by Apunba Lup and Committee for the Repeal of AFSPA said.
"The mass protests using democratic means carried out by the people of Manipur needs to be recognized by Governments," it said.
Talking to reporters after the demonstration, Shahana Bhattacharya, spokesperson of the Committee said the repeal of AFSPA was not an issue of Manipur but for the entire country and democracy.
"It is high time that the Governments both in Imphal and Delhi end their indifferent and callous attitude and undermine the repeal of the offensive law," she said.