MSF demands repeal of AFSPA, warns stir
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 17 2024: While contending that the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA)-1958 was imposed with the intention of suppressing the people's movement, Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) has stated that this decision of the Union Ministry is against the people and as such, should be withdrawn immediately.

MSF is ready to launch various protests with the people against this draconian Act, it added.

In release, MSF publicity secretary Abhijeet Kabrabam said re-imposition of AFSPA-1958 in areas under six police stations namely Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong and Moirang, is clearly against the wishes of the people and considered as a means of suppressing the people through security forces.

The people of Manipur understand the struggle for control between the centre and the state, and the interference of the centre in the state's administration is one example for supressing the voices of the people of Manipur, it maintained.

MSF continued that the conflict has cost around 250 lives and left over 60,000 people displaced with records of 5043 terrifying incidents and many people still unaccounted for.

Over 60,000 central paramilitary forces are deployed in the state to control the violence but peace and stability remain elusive.

Amid this, the re-imposition of the draconian Act is not a good step and should be withdrawn immediately.

The people of Manipur have suffered more than enough under the pro-military Act, the students' body remarked.

MSF continued that AFSPA is an act depriving the self-determination right of the people and will lead to the annihilation of the indigenous people of Manipur, not to mention the disintegration of the society and integrity of the state.

The promulgation of such an Act in one of the largest democracies is hypocrisy at its finest and this should be made known to people the world over, it asserted.

Instead of deliberating on withdrawing the Act completely from the state and taking steps to end the conflict in the state, the armed groups "nurtured" by the central government are now killing innocent women and children wantonly.

Thus, MSF called for immediate withdrawal of AFSPA before the situation deteriorates.

MSF further cautioned that it is prepared to launch various forms of protest with the people in case of failing to do So, while urging all indigenous confmunities of the state to extend their support in this regard.

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