The Coalition for Repeal of AFSPA, Bangalore,consisting of student,women and several human rights organisations held a public meeting on 16.9.04 at H.N. Hall, National College, Basavanagudi to demand for the withdrawl of the draconian Act from Manipur and elsewhere.It was attended by over 300 citizens of Banaglore from different walks of life.The presence of students from Manipur was overwhelming. The meeting began with Kannada songs by members of Mahila Jagruthi. It was followed by a patriotic song sung by a student from Bangalore Manipur Students' Association.

Video clippings of recent demonstrations and protests in Manipur were shown next. The clippings revealed the inhuman torture and harassment of the common people in Manipur by the security forces. It was indeed shocking to see the barbaric acts committed by the security personnel on unarmed protestors.

The first speaker of the evening was Dr. L.Pardesi Singh,Committe on Human Rights(COHR),Manipur and Founding Chairman,North-East Committee on Human Rights (NECOHR). Narrating the history of democratic struggle in Manipur for the repeal of AFSPA, he described how the Indian government had resorted to 'divide and rule' policy by pitting the various ethnic groups in Manipur against each other. The govt. even resorted to attacks on human rights activists to break down the struggle of the people of the North East - Parag Das, the secretary of NECOHR (which was formed by the people of North East to unitedly fight against the draconian laws). was in fact killed in 1997, allegedly by security personnel.

He mentioned that since January 2004, there have been atleast 12 incidents where innocent people had been picked up by the armed forces and then killed in false encounters and the people of Manipur could not tolerate any more after the barbaric killing of Manorama. Dr. Singh expressed wonder as to how the security of India can be improved by killing the people of Manipur who are none but Indians. He condemned the labelling of the protestors as agents of 'terrorists' and claimed that such labels only helped the Army in using AFSPA to detain, torture, rape and kill the protesting people. He strongly protested against government claims that few jawans had misused the Act; rather, his view was that Act has been used efficiently by the Army to clamp down on the democratic struggle.

He informed the audience that almost 99% of the Manipuri people wanted the repeal of the Act and said that talks can begin with central government only after the anti-people and anti-democratic Act is repealed. Finally, he gave a call for an united struggle by all democracy-loving people of India against the fascist policies of the Indian government.

The next speaker, Ms. Lalitha, editor of Jagruthi, explaied how rape has been used by the state to put down struggles in various parts of the country by attacking women who constitute half the population. She claimed that rape is a political weapon in the hands of the upper-class, upper-caste people, used to subjugate ths struggling masses.

She informed that although several fact-finding reports have been brought out exposing such acts committed by the armed forces on women in areas of conflict in teh country, the government has not punished the culprits - rather the silence of the government was a tacit approval of such acts of torture by the security personnel. She claimed that AFSPA only gave more teeth to the armed forces to continue with their barbaric acts.

Professor Bhanu Pratap Das from Peoples Democratic Forum,Bangalore was the next speaker.He emphasised that AFSPA violates all accepted norms of human rights and has no place in civilised society as it gives the armed forces unlimited power without any accountability.He referred to the gross human rights violations that had taken place in Punjab and Kashmir where this Act had also been imposed.

According to him,the problem in Manipur is political in nature and it therefore warrants a political and not military solution. He said the campaign against AFSPA in Bangalore had gained momentum and it must be carried forward.

The last speaker,Mr Dillon,a student from St Joseph's College,Bangalore highlighted the undemocratic nature of AFSPA.He said,"it would be understandable if such an Act had been there in Hitler's Germany,but not in India." He made a strong case for repealing this Act. At the end of the meeting,a one minute silence was observed for all the people of Manipur who have been the victims of AFSPA.

The meeting was followed by a very spirited rally.The police did not give permission for a Meira(bamboo torch)procession,so the protestors went on a candle light march from National College,Basvangudi to Minerva circle in the heart of the city near the Town Hall.

* Organisations: Bangalore Manipuri Student Association(BMSA),Mahila Jagruthi,Stree Jagruthi Samiti,Peoples Democratic Forum,PUCL,KVR and others including individuals.