Manipur Human Rights groups call for intensifying fight against AFSPA
Source: IT News

Imphal, September 12 2018: "The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should not only be removed, it should be repealed", said Phulindro Konsam in a press conference held at Manipur Press club on Tuesday, which was organised to protest the 60th year of imposition of the draconian law, AFSPA in the state.

The press conference was organised by Committee on Human Rights (COHR), Manipur in association with Extra-judicial Execution Victims' Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Defenders Manipur (HRDM) and Just Peace Foundation (JPF) .

Chairman of COHR, Phulindro Konsam stated that the British colonisers had imposed the Armed Forces Special Ordinance, 1942 which was vehemently opposed by Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel and declared as the black law.

Then, on September 11, 1958, not long after the British left, the Parliament passed the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.He added that the first and greatest impact of this law was felt in the hill areas of Manipur which the government first declared as disturbed areas.

He strongly condemned the statement of army chief general, Bipin Rawat, who mobilised the army officers especially from the areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region to question and challenge the AFSPA cases in Supreme Court.

Phulindro also stated tha t the intention behind Bipin's statement is racial and alleged that his statement indicates the genocide of the indigenous people of the Northeast.

He also denounced the government's divisive policy by specifically imposing AFSPA in the Northeast and Kashmir.

He charged that political parties only use AFSPA as an election plan to decorate their election manifesto and to buy votes but never work sincere enough to repeal it.

Managing trustee of JPF, K.Anandi said that even though fake encounter cases are declining, there is still a threat of it.

Joy Chingakham of HRDM said that human rights defenders have been fighting against AFSPA and will continue to fight until the draconian act is repealed.

The organisers resolved to intensify and strengthen the various on-going agitations against AFSPA.

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