IMPHAL, December 15: The People Platform Secretariat today convened a press conference at the Manipur Press Club demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from Manipur.
Addressing the press conference, convenor P Inao said, “For the last two years, the Ministry of Home Affairs` Annual Reports have consistently pointed towards decrease in the levels of violence in conflict areas including Manipur”.
“The 2009-2010 Annual Report stated that the situation in the North-East has improved with reduction in the levels of violence and casualties and according to the Ministry of Home Affairs` Annual Report (2010-2011), the security situation in the North-East has shown improvement in 2011as compared to 2010 in terms of violence and casualties of civilians and security forces”, he said.
Despite this clear decrease in insurgency related violence, the state`s response to the political issues in the region has remained mainly militaristic, accompanied by draconian security laws that has led to widespread human rights violations, he maintained.
He continued that 1528 people including 1399 males, 31 females and 98 children were killed in Manipur from 1979 to May 2012 in encounters.
Fundamental rights such as the right to life, the right to a fair trial, the right to remedy and reparation, the right against torture, the right against arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and freedom of association and to peacefully assemble and protest, as well as a series of economic, social and cultural rights have been systematically violated in the areas where AFSP A is in operation, he said.
This law has, therefore, come under severe criticism both domestically and internationally, with many voices calling for its repeal, he said.
Citing several recommendations on repeal of AFSPA including the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee, the Administrative Reform Commission and the Working Group on Confidence-Building Measures in J&K have called for its repeal, calls for revocation of the act from civil societies, criticism from UN Special Rapporteurs, the PPS has urged the government of India to take urgent actions.
The PPS has urged the government to constitute Special Investigation Team, SIT to investigate into human rights violations taking place in Manipur with direct supervision by the Supreme Court of India.
The body has further urged the government to repeal AFSPA, 1958 as recommended by Jeevan
Reddy Commission and 2nd Administrative Reform Commission and not substitute it by bringing mere amendments to the act.
The organization has also urged the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to clarify the reasons about why Disturb Areas Act should be extended and the prolong the imposition of AFSPA, 1958 should be continued.
It has also urged the Government to initiate the political dialogue and resolve the armed conflict in Manipur.
The press conference was also attended by United Tribal Development Project, president Thoukhum Jacob, People Action for Development, president Ashen Panmei, Village Women Coordinative Committee, vice president K Kunjabati and Conflict Widow Forum, member Saira Banu among others.