SAKAL urges Govt to repeal AFSPA
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 03 2015 : Supporting the over 14-year-old hunger strike by Irom Chanu Sharmila, the Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) has threatened the State Government on Wednesday that it will resume intensive agitation if it fails to take steps for repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act at the earliest.

SAKAL staged a sit-in protest in front of its office at Porompat in Imphal East demanding the State Government to revoke AFSPA from Manipur in line with the Tripura Government which had recently withdrawn the disturbed area status from that State paving the way for completely scrapping the Act.

Lup convenor S Momon Leima said that both the State and Central Government have kept mum on the issue of AFSPA ignoring the prolonged movement by crusader Sharmila and the people against the controversial Act.

"Tripura Government has scrapped this Act considering the fact that it had been violating human rights in that State.

The Manipur Government should learn a lesson from the people-friendly Tripura Government," She stated that the Manipur Government can also act like the Tripura Government and withdraw AFSPA from the State.

Momon Leima cited that many have been killed, many women have been raped and that there are many cases of forced disappearance in Manipur where AFSPA has been enforced for a long time.

She said SAKAL is ready to launch fresh agitation against both the Governments if AFSPA is not repealed quickly.

Comment