Imphal, December 27: Setting the record straight, Chairman of the Review Committee, set up to study the provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Justice BB Jeevan Reddy today said that they have come here with an open mind and asserted that they can recommend the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Answering to a query raised by The Sangai Express during a press conference at Hotel Imphal today evening, Justice Jeevan Reddy said, "We have come here with an open mind and there are several options open.

We can recommend the repeal of the Act or its amendment or its modification".

Justice BB Jeevan Reddy asserted that the Committee is an objective and independent body mandated by the Centre to review the provisions of the Act and submit suggestions.

"Based on the inputs we receive from the people who have a stake on the matter we have the mandate to give the required suggestions," reiterated the Chairman of the Review Committee.

Spelling out the objectives of the Review Committee, Justice Reddy said, "We are here with an open mind.

We have not come with any pre-conceived notions or views and are here to elicit the views of the people concerned with the Act.

We urge all the persons interested in strengthening human rights and the rule of law to air their views".

The Chairman also called upon all to present their views without fear or inhibition to enable the Committee to receive all opinion and help it formulate the necessary suggestions.

Fending questions from the newsmen, the Committee said that the boycott call given by one group of the Apunba Lup defies logic and is incomprehensible.

"It is important that the people come forward to air their views and opinion so that we may be able to assess their stand.

We do not want any view to go unrepresented." In such a situation, why impose the boycott, they countered.

Despite the boycott call, the Committee members expressed hope that the people will come forward and air their views and opinions stating, "We expect good, qualitative and objective response from the people".

On being asked why meeting the people is so important when the media and other channels have been highlighting the gross excesses and atrocities of the security personnel under the said Act, the Committee said that the views and contents of the newspapers and other material will definitely be taken into consideration but added that a direct interaction with the people will prove beneficial too.

To a direct question to Sanjoy Hazarika, who is part of the Committee, whether his earlier stand of dubbing the AFSPA as redundant still stands and whether it will be reflected in his inputs to the Committee's report, the Committee said that there are no personal biases and the suggestions will be submitted only after a thorough in-depth study of the matter at hand.

Justice Jeevan Reddy also assured that the case of Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on a fast unto death agitation for the last 4 years demanding the revocation of the said Act and the self immolation of Pebam Chittaranjan will be taken note of while preparing their reports.

The Chairman also assured that the Committee will be able to submit its report within the time frame set by the Prime Minister which is 6 months.

This visit is not the end of everything, said the Committee and urged all to send their views and opinion to their office at New Delhi.

"Our doors are always open and we welcome any suggestions that may be given to us at our office," they added.

Though the Committee said that they will cover all the 7 North Eastern States, special emphasis will be laid on Manipur as it is at the epicentre of the uproar against the Act.

The Committee will be here till December 30 and apart from the Chairman, the other members are former VC and jurist Dr SB Nakade, former Special Secretary in the Home Ministry PP Shrivastav, former Director General Military Operations Lt General VR Raghavan and journalist Sanjoy Hazarika.

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