Rally, meeting protest AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11 2013 :
Deman-ding total repeal of the infa- mous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 and effective control measures on crimes against women, a public mee-ting was held today at Torbung today, followed by a mass rally.
The public meeting cum protest rally was jointly orga-nised by the Social Up- liftment Centre Thamnapokpi Moirang, Waikhurok to Tron-glaobi Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and Kwakta and Surrounding Villages United Clubs Organisation.
Addressing the public meeting, social activist Adam said that crimes against wo-men and AFSPA are related either directly or indirectly.
According to common Indian laws, no citizen can be arrested during night time by police, paramilitary forces or the army.
But in places where AFSPA is in force, these laws do not apply and anybody can be pulled up and in- terrogated in the dead of night.
Security forces can kill any citizen on mere suspicion of being UG cadres.
Even if security forces kill people, commit crimes, rape women, they cannot be tried in any civil court because of the impunity granted to them by AFSPA.
It was this impunity which empowered Assam Ri-fles personnel to pick up Thangjam Manorama from her home in a dreadful night, rape her and ultimately murder the woman.
Children are being looked after and groomed by their parents with love and care spending all their earnings but these children are shot dead not long after they have grown up, Adam observed.
According to a Home Ministry report of 2010-11, law and order has improved considerably in the North East region, particularly so in Manipur.
Noting that many UG groups have either surrendered or joined peace process, Adam questioned relevance of AFSPA in the changed security environment of the region.
"Or is the draconian Act being used to facilitate exploitation of natural resources, implementation of Free Trade Agreement and exploration of petroleum products", he asked.
Women Action for Development (WAD) secretary Sobita Mangshatabam noted that five women have been killed and abandoned this year.
Decrying no fair trial is done in any of these brutal rape and murder cases, Sobita wondered how long Manipuri society can exist when women are being killed on daily basis.
She exhorted all parents to give equal opportunities and care to both sons and daughters.
It's time for all the parents to ponder on the ways and means which can protect the natural resources, repeal AFSPA and send back the military personnel, she asserted.
Sapam Rajen said that not only women should be targeted while organising awareness programmes on crimes against women.
Men should also be made equal partners.
Resolutions adopted at the meeting which was attended by different communities were later dispatched to the President of India in the form of a memorandum.
The main points/demands of the memorandum are repeal AFSPA, bring justice to the victim families of fake encounters, implement recommendations given by Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission, Justice Verma Commission, Second Administrative Reform Commission and UN bodies to repeal AFSPA.
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