Imphal, August 05: The Open Debate on 'Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 and its Impact on the People of North East India with Special Reference to Manipur' held on July 31 at the Centenary Hall of Manipur University decrying imposition of the repressive Act resolved to urge the Central Government for removal of the AFSPA from the State.

It also demanded identification of armed personnel responsible for the custodial death of Th Manorama Devi and to punish the guilty ones besides appealing to both the Central and State Governments to restore normalcy.

With professors N Khagendra Singh and N Mohendro Singh as the moderators various resource persons speaking on wide ranging issues with particular emphasis on violation of human rights by law enforcing agencies under the immunity granted by AFSPA.

The debate was jointly organized by MU Teachers' Assn, Officers' Assn, Staff Assn and Students' Union.

Several speakers referring to frequent abuses of human rights by security personnel mooted that imposition of AFSPA in some NE States to contain insurgency movement has proved futile with the commoners having to sustain several form of atrocities.

Pointing out tragic situations the people of the region have had to face due to promulgation of the repressive Act also highlighted that rather that combating insurgency the Act has alienated the civilian population that could ultimately prove detrimental to peace and prosperity aspiration of the people.

Terming the excess power conferred to the security force personnel and neo-colonial governance as 'taking things for granted', 'taking the people for ride through lip service' and riding roughshod on the poor and innocent people' the debate speakers expressed concerned that misrule for more than fifty year has only resulted in manifold growth of insurgency movement.

The public disillusionment, alarming rate of custodial deaths, unexplained and mysterious disappearances of people sums up the irrelevance of the Act to serve its purpose, the speakers asserted.

Suicide of N Sanjeeta Devi of Jiribam following rape by Indian Army personnel, controversy behind the death of Saichang village pastor Jamkholet Khongsai are few of the recent incidents that took place in Manipur due to excess power armed to the law enforcing agencies, added a delayed press statement.

The indefinite hunger strike launched by Irom Chanu Sharmila demanding scrapping of AFSPA in the wake of massacre of innocent people at Malom some year back also reflects the agony and mental as well as physical torture the people have had to face at the hands of security force personnel, it added.

Such atrocities vividly explains that favoring continuation of AFSPA speaks volume of the inconsiderate attitude of the Central Government, decried the statement demanding immediate removal of the Act.

Imposition of AFSPA also negates the claim that India is the largest democracy in the world while its people especially those in the North East have to endure tremendous hardships.

The speakers condemning the extra-judicial killing of Manorama also denounced lack of initiatives by the authorities to shift Assam Rifles from the Kangla that is sacred to the people of Manipur, it said.

Govt of India's non serious approach to demand for vacating Kangla and in stead adopting temporary measures and delaying tactics showcases the disregard to rightful demands and irrepressible sentiments of the people, said the statement demanding immediate arrangement to mollify the disturbingly charged sentiments of people of Manipur.

The imposition of AFSPA for the last twenty years had led to serious law and order situation in the State, which has the potential of creating tremendous political tensions, and which may also aggravate prevailing situation and result in unexpected political formulations in the State, the statement contended while urging the Centre to find a permanent political solution instead of advocating solution to the insurgency issue militarily that could only be temporary.

The debate resolution also fervently appealed to all elements and powers that are directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly promoting the ever worsening situation of Manipur to introspect serious and help in the restoration of normalcy in Manipur immediately.

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