Imphal, December 29: Despite the boycott call given by the hard liners within the Apunba Lup and the public curfew imposed at the office of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, a number of people turned up before the Review Committee to lay down their demand and narrate their tales of woes.

Two brothers of Th Manorama, Th Dolendro and Th Basu and office bearers of the People's Action Committee Against the Killing of Th Manorama, Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai, met the review team and submitted their testimonies today.

Three separate representations which gave a brief account of the killing of Th Manorama, after she was picked up by Assam Rifles personnel, were also submitted to the panel.

The representations also contained a brief account of the Judicial Inquiry that was constituted by the State Government to probe the matter.

The family members and members of the Committee urged the Review team to suggest the repeal of the Act as the AFSPA confers unbridled powers to the security personnel to do as they please and violate human rights.

The representations also stated that the Assam Rifles personnel involved in the arrest and killing of Th Manorama are yet to be punished even though the Judicial Inquiry Commission has already submitted its report to the Govt.Former Manipur Human Rights Commission member Yambem Laba also met the Review Committee and laid down that though the Act was first imposed to contain the insurgency movement in the Naga hills, it has not been to tackle the rise of the underground movement.

Representatives of the Joint Action Committee on Malom Massacre also met the Review panel and urged them to recommend the repeal of the Act.

The Malom Committee was formed after ten civilians were mowed down by Assam Rifles personnel on November 2, 2000.Irom Sharmila Chanu also launched her fast unto death agitation following the Malom massacre.

Indian Association of Lawyers (Manipur State chapter), Young Lawyers' Forum, Manipur University Students' Union and family members and kins of victims of security force atrocities also met the panel members and demanded the repeal of the Act without further ado.

Even as the public hearing was on, activists of the hard liners of the Apunba Lup torched the effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Chairman of the Review Committee, Justice (Retd) BB Jeevan Reddy at Lamphel, which is near the office of the MHRC.

The Lup activists also raised slogans demanding the repeal of the Act and asking the Review Committee to go back.

The Review Committee arrived in Imphal on December 27 and they will be here till tomorrow to receive feedbacks and inputs from the public.

Straight on their arrival at Imphal, the Committee members had stated that the options open to them are to recommend the repeal of the Act or to modify it or amend it.

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