Meet calls for 'voting out' AFSPA from State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2014 : Resource persons who addressed a con-sultation programme at Wairi today appealed to all the voters of the State to cast their votes only for the parties/candidates who can promise to repeal Ar-med Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 .

The consultation program-me on the topic "Crimes Against Humanity and AFSPA 1958" was jointly organised by Wairi Yakairol Club, Wairi Development Committee, Women Welfare Association, Maniyaiskul De-velopment Committee, Mani- yaiskul Progressive Youth Club, Maniyaiskul Meira Paibi, Ideal Club Waiton and North East Dialogue Forum.

Giving key note address of the programme, Ideal Club advisor Sanjitkumar said that prolonged imposition of AFSPA has been violating fundamental rights of the people of Manipur.

All the people of Manipur need to know about international humanitarian laws.

That was why the consultation programme was organised, he said.

HRA executive director Babloo Loitongbam said that even though people of Mani-pur are citizens of India they are not entitled to all the rights and opportunities given to ci-tizens of other parts of India.

Rape, murder, arbitrary de-tention, destruction of pro- perties and all kinds of repressive measures are being unleashed upon the people of Manipur by security forces under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA even as Irom Sharmila has been fasting for the last 14 years demanding complete repeal of the draconian Act, Babloo said.

People participate in a rally against AFSPA

Police is used for internal security whereas army is meant for fighting external aggression.

But in Manipur army is being used for internal security measures for the past many decades.

Although Government of India has been trying to vindicate its policy of imposing AFSPA in the North East region by pointing its finger to presence of insurgents AFSPA has been never imposed in the areas where there is strong insurgency movement of the Maoists.

This is open indication that Government of India discri-minate Manipur and the North East region, Babloo asserted.

Pointing out that AFSPA is a racist Act, the UN Committee on Elimination of Ra- cial Discrimination has already asked India to abolish the Act.

Since 2007, the UN Committee has written six letters to the Government of India seeking its response on AFSPA.

But the Government of India has not given a single reply, he added.

Naharolgi Thoudang editor Khoirom Loyalakpa said that insurgents do not kill people or extort money in Ma-nipur.

The daily reports of bomb blasts and threats with explosives are done by pseudo insurgents.

North East Dialogue Forum convenor U Nobokishore said that people between 15 to 40 years are being killed by security forces in a syste-matic manner under the impu- nity guaranteed by AFSPA.

This age is the most productive period.

It is people in this age group who work for the society with vigour and commitment.

Killing people of this age group in a systematic manner is nothing but genocide.

Even as the Government of India has been committing genocide in Manipur, the State MLAs and the Chief Minister could not voice a single word of protest, Nobokishore alleged.

WAD secretary Sobita Mangshatabam said that out of 42 bombs planted in public places and civilian areas, only in six cases UG groups claimed their hand.

In the remaining cases, nobody made any claim.

Given the heavy deployment of security personnel in the State, it is highly questionable who brought and planted the explosives, Sobita said.

Because of the prolonged imposition of AFSPA and the concomitant repressive measures, all the people of the State are suffering from trauma and stress, she said.

After the meeting, a mass rally was taken in the course of which people shouted slogans demanding complete repeal of AFSPA.