AFSPA 1958: A Boon or a Bane?

By Chon Haokip *

A mere mentioning of September 11 (or 9/11) sends one's chill down the spine. The gory incident of attack on America by Osama Bin Laden's hardcore disciples seven years ago still remains fresh in the minds of everyone.

Incidentally, the same date this year marked the golden jubilee year of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in Manipur. As expected, a march was held in New Delhi's ITO to Jantar Mantar by various students and human rights activists.

A glance over the years tells diverging tales. A pessimist or general perspective sees the gross violation of human rights in the name of the Act.

Custodial killings killing in fake encounters, shot without evidence, merciless lathi-charged, barbaric assault on civilians, and the list goes on.

It has always been a matter of grave concern for the citizens of the State and an endless topic of discussion for various human rights groups. An optimist perspective may, nevertheless, see the contribution of the Act in checking the anti-social elements.

One strong condemnation and the arousal point of the Act is the fact that it was imposed when there was no such thing as insurgency in the State.

The first underground outfit to be officially known is the UNLF, which came into existence in 1964 six years after the Act was imposed in the State.

While the Act is obviously in force to check the insurgent activities, the over-exercise of it earned the name 'draconian law'. Massive demonstrations were held in and around Imphal over the years for repealing the Act.

In response to the call, the incumbent Congress govt. repealed the AFSPA 1958 in Imphal area about two years ago. Whereas the Act was repealed in utter consideration for the people, what is happening later is worth retrospection.

Ever since the Act is repealed in Imphal area, one can observed a sea change in the frequency of terror strikes in the State Capital.

Within this a-year-and-a-half span of time, the bomb attacks has, no doubt, reached an unprecedented scale. From high security zone Chief Minister's bungalow to highly alerted Commando Complex, the indigenous outfits have penetrated every nook and corner of the Capital.

This series turn of events raise rather few questions. We have been fighting all these years for repealing this 'inhuman' Act.

Now our demand is met. But does it turn out as expected?

Is these violent attack a humane one? The 'license' to kill Act has gone and the unlicensed brethren act as the bigger threat.

Imposition of the Act in the State legitimizes the security forces to train their guns on the people. Repealing of it gives enough freedom to the trigger-happy militants.

In both the contrasting cases, the victims are obviously the common people - you and I. Someone had rightly said, "When the elephants fight, it is the grass which suffer"