Mass rally cum public meeting demands repeal of AFSPA
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 02 2013 :
Demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, Juvenile Club, Village Women Coordinating Committee (VWCOC); Conflict Widow Forum (COWF); Applied Biotech Farmers' Club (ABFC) and other organizations jointly organized a mass rally cum public meeting at Imphal West district's Salam Community Hall on Wednesday.
Delivering the keynote address of mass rally cum public meeting which was held ahead of the January 4 Supreme Court hearing on AFSPA, Social activist Babicha Mangsatabam said that AFSPA is an inhuman Act and it should be repealed for the true sense of democracy to prevail in India.
Instead of controlling insurgency, the Act has rather promoted it.
Moreover, since the implementation of the Act in Manipur and some other parts of the country, many untoward incidents such as rape, molestation, etc are happening on regular basis.
|
Reading out their 6-point charter of demands which was addressed to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, Babicha said that central government should implement the recommendations made by Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission and initiate a political dialogue with all the armed political organisations for a long-term peace and political settlement in Manipur.
India Government should also establish an International Court of Justice in the country.
Urging the central government to review imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives sweeping power to security forces in North East India in the context of India's democratic process, Bebicha pointed out that India should also frame a welfare policy programme for victims of AFSPA.
She warned that if the central government fails to repeal the Act, they (social organizations) would continue their protest.
The 2.30 km long mass rally was flagged off by Retd.Superintendent of Police Sanasam Leiren from the market shed of Yurembam Awang Leikai and it was participated by more than 300 people.