NEDF urges PM to repeal AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2016 :
The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has called upon the Prime Minister of India to respect and implement the recommendation made by Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission report (2005), Justice Shantosh Hedge Report (2013), Justice Verma Commission report (2013), and Administrative Reforms Commission report and several other recommendations made by many agencies in India to repeal AFSPA.
Amnesty International's statement on AFSPA "AFSPA is undeclared emergency with undefined reasons for unlimited period of time" (1997) and the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission Report (2005) clearly stated that AFSPA has become a symbol of oppression, an object of hate and instrument of discrimination and high handedness" merits serious introspection.
The High Commissioner of UN Human Rights Council, Mrs.Pillay strongly urged the Government of India to repeal such colonial law like AFSPA from India.
AFSPA is outdated law, as she said, conveyed a statement issued by the NEDF.
Professor Christof Hans, the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Execution professionally had challenged the Government of India for not repealing AFSPA.
Ms.Rashida Manjoo, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women made her strong remarks that there is evidence of mass rape by the Indian armed forces in the north eastern region.
It is very important for the people to note that the AFSPA fundamentally violates the Article 14 (equality before the law/ in the case of Indrajit Barua 1980), Article 21 (right to Life) and Article 22 (arrest and detention) of the Indian Constitution.
The Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political commitment that was opened for endorsement by countries at an international conference held in Oslo, Norway, on 28 May 2015 .
The Declaration provides countries the opportunity to express political support for the protection of students, teachers, and schools during time of armed conflict; the importance of the continuation of education during armed conflict; and the implementation of the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict.
In this connection, there are reports that 78 schools, colleges and University in Manipur are located inside or close to military camps.
Indian armed forces are not respecting the political commitment given by the Government of India at the level of the UN.
The NEDF then urged the Prime Minister of India to repeal AFSPA 1958 as a matter of urgency from the North Eastern states .
It further reminded that in the Universal Periodic Review of India by the United Nations in 2012, 80s countries have supported the call to repeal AFSPA from India.