SAKAL's relay hunger strike in support of Irom Sharmila completes 4 years
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, December 10 2012: The relay hunger strike by Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) in support of the hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from Manipur, has completed four years on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion marking completion of four years of relay hunger strike by SAKAL which was coincides with the observance of International Human Rights Day at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound in Imphal, Babloo Loitongbam, executive director, Human Rights Alert (HRA) accused the Central Government of not taking into account of the Jeevan Reddy Commission report.

The human rights activist further accused the Prime Minister, who had admitted that AFSPA was an inhuman Act and that it was better to replace it by a more humane Act, of keeping mum on the issue till date.

Babloo, who was speaking at the function as a resource person, observed that because of AFSPA rampant Human Rights contravention and atrocities are being committed by security forces in Manipur and the root cause of militancy in the state was this Act.

He recounted the remarks made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Imphal in 2004 when he stated that 'AFSPA had become an inhuman Act and that it was better to replace it by a more humane Act' .

Soon after that, a four-member committee, which was later entitled as "Jeevan Reddy Commission" headed by retired Supreme Court Justice, Jeevan Reddy, was constituted to review AFSPA, he said and he added that the commission after completing the revision work had submitted the report to the Central Government but it has maintained silence over the report setting aside it till now.

"Such act of the Government is unfortunate and clearly indicates that it has underestimated the people of Manipur," he alleged.

Imposition of this Draconian law enacted by Indian Parliament in the states like Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir allegedly in an inequitable manner is a sinister design of the Central Government to wipe out smaller communities, Babaloo said.

H Sanahanbi, member, SAKAL, who was giving the key note address of the function, asked why AFSPA has not yet been enforced in the Naxal-hit states of the country even though the volatile situations in such states have demanded such Act.

Supporting the cause of Irom Chanu Sharmila, SAKAL launched the rally hunger strike on December 10, 2008.The event was also attended by Y Nabachandra, president, United Committee Manipur (UCM), S Momon, convenor, SAKAL, Sinam Prakash, secretary general, North East Students' Organisation and several leaders of various NGOs.

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