Imphal, June 07: Observing that setting up the AFSPA Review panel is a time wasting exercise, the Working Committee of the apunba Lup alleged that the process besides being a delaying tactic is another manifestation of Government of India�s indifferent attitude to the sentiment of the people.

Referring to submission of the AFSPA Committee�s report to the Union Home Minister yesterday on completion of the six month timeframe granted to the panel, the Lup said that there is no reason to set up the committee in the first place, when the Prime Minister himself had termed the Act as �draconian�.

Moreover, the assertion that the report cannot be made public and need thorough deliberation of content by the Union Cabinet leaves substantial ground for apprehension on whether the Govt of India is sincere enough and committed to address the decade long despair of the people, said a joint statement of the Lup�s publicity committee RK Bhumi and Ch Premita.

When the entire world had become aware of the security force personnel exercising unbridled power to commit any form of atrocities under the immunity granted by the AFSPA and had demanded its removal there is no justification in retaining the Act in any form, asserted the Lup.

The irony of the whole issue of providing six month�s time to review the �draconian Act� is the simultaneous launching of �Operation All Clear� in some pockets of Manipur and far flung villagers having to endure severe cruelty at the hands of security personnel and having to undergo mental stress, the body alleged.

It also charged respective Government at the Centre of projecting the country as the advocate of democratic principles and ideals in the international fora in contrast to ground reality of empowering the law enforcing agencies under the guise of dealing with law and order matters.

Elaborating on the accusation, the Lup cited India�s failure to furnish reports of human rights issue to the UN which emphasis on member nations to comply in consonance with the resolution of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.The Government of India also continues to abhor the 1949 Geneva Convention norm pertaining to �Treatment of Prisoners of War� if one flips through records of forced disappearance after arrest by security forces as well as numerous instances of slaying members of insurgent groups in fake encounters, maintained the Lup.

Rather than fix responsibility against officers or security personnel responsible for massacre of innocent civilians the security force authorities have embarked on a misinformation mission campaign by forcibly involving members of the civil society in the Military Civic Action Programme.

Such a beguiling tactics employed by the security force with the blessing of New delhi clearly indicates that human dignity and right to life are mere commodities to the Centre which is of the firm believe that human life could be compromised through economic packages.

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