Anti-AFSPA struggle recounted on death anniversary of Manorama
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2019: People's sustained struggle against the infamous AFSPA 1958 was recounted today on the 15th death anniversary of Thangjam Manorama.

The death anniversary held at Lamyanba Shanglen, Konung Mamang was jointly organised by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup (WCAL) and the Thangjam Manorama Memorial Charitable Trust.

The gathering resolved to intensify the anti-AFSPA struggle as well as movements being waged in search of justice.

Speaking at the gathering, WCAL coordinator Phulindro Konsam said that thousands of people have been killed by security forces under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA 1958 .

Anti-AFSPA struggle recounted on death anniversary of Manorama

There have been multiple instances of massacres, fake encounters, rapes, molestations, physical tortures and mental harassments.

Of all these cases of sustained repression, the killing of Manorama was the most brutal one.

Troops of 17 Assam Rifles dragged away Manorama from her Bamonkampu Mayai Leikai residence in the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2004.She was found murdered in the most savage manner at Ngariyan foothill along Imphal-Yairipok road next morning.

After gangraping Manorama, numerous rounds of bullets were fired at her private part with an intention to destroy evidence, Phulindro said.

The way Manorama was gangraped and murdered shocked not only the people of Manipur and India but also the international community.

For the first time in the history of contemporary Manipur, 36/37 organisations joined hands and formed WCAL to fight for justice collectively.

The State witnessed massive and sustained protest movements for several days demanding befitting punishment of the 17 AR troops involved in gangraping and extrajudicial killing of Manorama and repeal of AFSPA 1958 from the State, Phulindro recalled.

In the course of the sustained movement, a number of women activists staged a historic nude protest in front of Kangla western gate which was then occupied by 17 AR.

At the height of the protest movement, student activist Pebam Chittaranjan self-immolated and one K Memita who sustained injuries in police action succumbed to the injuries, said the WCAL coordinator.

He said that the 15th commemorative function is being organised to pay homage to Thangjam Manorama as well as all those people who were killed in the course of the sustained struggle for justice.

Even today, people's long cherished demand for complete withdrawal of AFSPA from the State has not been fulfilled.

As such, there is a collective need to intensify the anti-AFSPA struggle, he said.

On the other hand, BJP promised through its Vision Document 2017 that all the security forces personnel involved in fake encounters would be put to trial.

Yet, the State Government led by BJP has not been granting prosecution sanction against some security personnel who have been charge-sheeted by CBI.

After EEVFAM and HRA filed a petition at the Supreme Court, the apex Court took cognizance of 1528 suspected cases of fake encounters.

At the instruction of the apex Court, CBI investigated some of these cases and had even submitted charge-sheets but the State Government has not been granting prosecution sanction, Phulindro decried.

Apart from paying floral tributes to the photograph of Thangjam Manorama, the gathering also observed silence for one minute in honour of those deceased victims of AFSPA.

WCAL's other coordinators Yumnam Ratankumar, Joy Chingakham, assistant coordinator Joychandra Konthoujam, Thangjam Manorama Memorial Charitable trust secretary Th Nilbir, AMKIL president Ph Sakhi, Poirei Leimarol president L Memchoubi, Ching-Tam United Women Association president M Purnimashi Leima and Kanglamei president Y Leirik Leima too attended the commemorative function as presidium members.