Imphal, January 25: The trauma and evil consequences brought about by the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 were recounted by the victims of the Act during a programme organised by the Apunba Lup at Manipur Press Club today.

During the programme christened "Testimony AFSPA 1958", 10 victims of the draconian Act recounted their tale of woes.

Rebika of Ningthoukhong Kha-Khunou recounted the bitter moments when her seven year old daughter Thoibinao felled a victim to 'stray bullets' on January 10, 2003.Thoibinao was standing, ignorantly as she was, holding a glass of water to offer evening prayer before her life was abruptly put to an end.

Adding to the woes of Rebika was that her husband who was watching TV at the moment was also crippled for life after he was hit by another bullet.

The so called stray bullets came off the barrels of BSF personnel who barged into the house under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA 1958, recalled Rebika cursing the inhuman Act.

Ahanjaobi, one of the many women outraged by security personnel to satisfy their carnal desire, said that even as 10 years have passed since the incident, the nightmarish memories are still fresh in her mind.

She is still enduring scornful glare from the people, Ahanjaobi disclosed adding that she has not been compensated till date.

Sharing her experience, Aram Pamei of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights recounted that in the aftermath of the ambush undertaken by one UG group against Assam Rifles on July 9, 1987 at Oinam village in which 9 AR personnel were killed, an extensive search operation was launched in 30 adjoining villages.

In the course of the operations, three women were raped, five others were sexually assaulted while two women were forced to deliver in open, Aram Pamei recalled the horrendous incidents.

Moreover, 27 innocent villagers were slaughtered and Rs 5.79 lakhs looted, she added.

Taking part in the programme as a moderator, Arambam Lokendro disclosed that the Government of India responded to the Committee of Eliminating Discrimination Against Women constituted under resolution no 1325 of the UN that there was no case of discrimination or torture against women by armed forces in India.

Quite contrary to what was observed in the field, the Government of India responded that the armed forces of India respected women and they were patriotic soldiers, Lokendro informed.

Prof Naorem Sanajaoba who was also a moderator of the programme, said that he would send a complaint letter against the false and outrageous report furnished by the Government of India to the Committee of Eliminating Discrimination Against Women.

Taking strong exception to the reluctance of the Union Government to repeal AFSPA 1958 even after the Prime Minister himself had acknowledged the Act as inhumane, Prof Sanajaoba remarked that the Prime Minister was afflicted with a personal problem.

Apunba Lup co-ordinator Devan decried the use of Sharmila and AFSPA by political parties and candidates as their election agenda.

He said that today's programme was organised with the objective of providing an impetus to the anti-AFSPA campaign by exposing and recounting the acts of atrocities committed by security forces under the impunity guaranteed by the Act.

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