Anti-AFSPA post-card campaign begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 22 2010: Manipur chapter of the post-card campaign being initiated by the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) across 25 States of India demanding abolition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 has been launched today.

Launching the campaign in Manipur today, the AIYF Manipur State Council released five postcards containing photographs of antiAFSPA crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila, different episodes of the Manipur people's movement against AFSPA as well as pictures of security forces' response to such popular movements.

It is reported that these postcards would be sent to the President of India with names, signatures and addresses of many people campaigning against the draconian act.

AntiAFSPA post cards being launched by members of AIYF

Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan today about the post-card campaign, AIYF Manipur State Council president Sh Purnimashi said that the post-card campaign is a part of its more than 30 years old movement for repeal of AFSPA.

Around 2000 people of Manipur would be sending these post-cards together with their names, addresses and signatures to the President of India within the current month.

The demand for repeal of AFSPA is one of the 15 resolutions adopted in the North East Regional Convention cum Seminar held at Guwahati Bishnu Nirmal Bhavan on March 9, Purnimashi said.

The convention organised by the AIYF was participated by around 200 youngsters coming from different States of the North East region.

The North East Co-ordination Committee of AIYF was also set up at the convention during which different issues of the region were deliberated.

Noting that majority of the youngsters of the region have been disappointed and this was one major factor for alienating the youth from national mainstream, the convention resolved to urge upon New Delhi to initiate a process of unconditional political dialogue with all insurgent outfits of the region.

Strict compliance with reservation/quota system regarding ST, SC and OBC, provision of job to all people through NREGS and raising the number of working days to 200 from 100 and extension of special package for backward NE States were the other resolutions adopted in the meeting.

It also resolved that unemployed youths should be given unemployment allowance.

Entitlement of forest rights to hill people, allocation of waste land to landless people and construction of houses for them were also demanded by the convention.

Extension of PDS to all tribal areas of the region, adequate schools, hostels, training institutes, health centres, formulation and implementation of National Urban Employment Guarantee Act in urban areas constituted the last part of the resolutions of the convention.

The AIYF together with State councils would be exerting pressure on the centre to implement these resolutions, said AIYF Manipur State Council vice-president SN Tamijar.

All these issues would be discussed at the State level during the AIYF Manipur State Council's forthcoming convention scheduled on April 27 and 28, Tamijar said.