Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 23:
The Committee instituted to review continuance of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 in the North East region today conducted its public hearing at Churachandpur district headquarters.
Three members of the AFSPA Review Committee SP Nakade (ex-VC), Lt Gen (retd) VR Raghavan and PP Srivastav conducted the hearing at the community hall here with the Siamsinpawlpi, Zomi Human Rights Foundation and Kuki Human Rights Group.
Addressing the media after its hearing, the committee members said it is likely that a report in this regard will be presented within a month and suggestions will be based solely on total panorama, collected from varied platform.
To a query on reactions of the people, the committee said there are some who wanted its repeal while some disagree, but all by any means wanted the Army to stay in the state.
Amending the act and not repealing it was also suggested and it is the most likely outcome of it, they added.
The Committee claimed that public hearings regarding the act has been conducted in all states of the north east except Mizoram, which had nothing to do with it.
Terming the visit here as final round for the state the committee members said the hearing would wrap up after two sessions at upper Assam.
PP Srivastav, also a member of the North Eastern Council, said NEC has been made a mini-planning body on March 12 where all social-economic planning for the eight north eastern states, including Sikkim will be made by the NEC and not at Delhi to address the grievances.
Srivastav also said a vision called North East Region (NER) 2020 has been formulated by the body to position the neglected and undeveloped region at par with other states of the country.
Srivastav further conveyed of a vision document to be drafted by the NE states within three months which will be forwarded to a Drafting Committee to be constituted from well versed personality.
The committee will then place its draft plan to the NEC for approval.
Once the plan is approved, the government�s five year plan will become a people's plan, he assured.
Meanwhile, Meetei Society, Churachandpur said it boycotted today's public hearing as reviewing the repressive act is unacceptable and against the sentiment of the general public.