Imphal, December 10: The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today adopted six resolutions following the convention at GM Hall under the theme "Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 and Militarisation in Manipur," in connection with International Human Rights Day.

The convention was jointly organised by the Apunba Lup and the United Nations Association, Manipur.

The resolutions adopted at the end of the convention included, (I) to oppose the continued imposition of AFSPA in Manipur and the North East for more than 46 years and to express deep anguish over, the continued violation of human rights and present militarisation of the State; (2) the imposition of AFSPA for nearly half a century in Manipur and militarisation of the State without declaring a state of internal emergency and without declaring a state of internal armed conflict is against all principles of existing international humanitarian law and the recent militarisation of the State for suppression of armed opposition groups is against the "principles of proportionality accepted by the international community.

The Centre should therefore declare that a state of non-international armed conflict exists in Manipur before the international community and should declare before the UN bodies what are the rights of the people being derogated by the State;" (3) As the rights of the people have been trampled under the AFSPA, the international human rights bodies namely the International Red Cross and Red Crescent etc should be allowed to visit and monitor the armed conflict waged between the Indian security force and the armed opposition groups; (4) The Govt of India should immediately ratify the Additional Protocols of the ICCPR and ICESR and also Additional Protocols of the Geneva Convention in order to safe guard the lives and dignity of the people who are caught in a non-international armed conflict situation; (5) The Right to Information Act should be made operative by the Government and the effect of the present conflict on the civil population should be brought to the knowledge of the public and (6) the Manipur Human Rights Commission should be effectively supported.

The six resolutions were read out by the co-president of the convention Dr Arambam Lokendra, Executive Chairperson of the United Nations Association, Manipur.

Before the resolutions were read out, Dr Lokendra said that he was among the group who met the Prime Minister recently and added they were forced to meet the PM as the political representatives of the State had failed to do the needful for the people.

The meeting with the Prime Minister is not the end of the purpose; he said and added that all should endeavour to ensure that AFSPA is repealed.

Chairman of Manipur Human Rights Commission, WA Shishak who attended the meet as chief guest said that it is unfortunate; the country has started taking an Act more seriously than the fate of a people.

Just like the people have been able to win over Kangla from the Government of India; the protest against AFSPA should go on till the stated objectives are realised, he added.

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