IMPHAL, January 23: The former vice-president of National Council of Churches, Shillong Dr PBM Baisaiawmoit said the struggle for repeal of AFSPA by Irom Sharmila is similar to the struggle by Nobel Prize winner and Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the former deserve the same award.
In the press meet convened by the North Dialogue Forum on Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 at Manipur Press Club, he further said that even now the impact of AFSPA in the state is visible. The Act is still imposed in Nagaland and some part of Meghalaya bordering with Assam. This Act is totally against the democracy and there is no room for such draconian law in democracy.
He further said that in November, last year, the World Council of Churches Assembly at Busan City, South Korea discussed about Irom Sharmila struggle and the members also lobbied for the Noble Peace prize for her.
In year 2004, the national council of Churches of India discuss about the AFSPA and wrote a note to President and Prime Minister of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 from NE region and J&K, he added.
The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Umar Farooque is totally against the AFSPA 1958 but unfortunately Chief Minister of Manipur is still mute, he stated. Who is in interest with AFSPA, which can killed or torture anybody under suspticion.
The governor of Meghalaya Musahari (former Director General of BSF) himself was against AFSPA. The UN and the various churches in India raised their voices against AFSPA but the Indian government is still deaf, he stated.
He further added that in the armed conflict areas women are faces both abuse directly and indirectly. They are being abuse by security force giving fault alleges of harbouring UGs and conference. If the husband is killed in an encounter or fake encounter women are also suffer on losing their husband or children.
He further declared a recommendation to the government of India to repeal AFSPA 1958, respect and implement the Geneva Convention, 1949’s common Article 3 and additional Protocol II of 1977. To establish truth and reconciliation Commission, compensate all victims of rape, torture and families of those innocent civilians killed, to punish human trafficking with modern techniques and equipment for effective investigation and timely deliverance of justice, to immediate stop torture and summoning of civilians by security forces.
Also he declared recommendation to political Armed Opposition groups to respect implement the Geneva Convention, 1949’s common Article 3 and Additional Protocol II 1977, to reconcile among the factions and stop inter-fractional fighting in the interesting of the common people and to sign and commit to the Geneva Call’s Deed of Agreement.
In the press meet, general secretary of Women Action for Development and member of North East Dialog Forum Kh Rebati Raman.
The people in the north eastern state and Manipur in particular have been experiencing the violence armed conflict for the last 50 years.
People experience the kind of human right violation both from Indian Union and Manipur state security forces and armed non-state actors.