NEW DELHI, November 1: A convention on Repeal AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) was organized here at New Delhi today with the objective to bring demand of Repeal AFSPA in political priorities. This convention was organized on the eve of November 2, when Irom Sharmila, better known as Iron lady of Manipur, would be completing 15 years of her hunger strike demanding the repeal of the notorious AFSPA, a release of the organisers said.
Convention was attended by various eminent speakers that includes Neingulo Krome (Secretary General of Naga Peoples`™ Movement for Human Rights), Babloo Loitongbam (Human Rights Activist from Manipur), Swami Agnivesh , Prof. Nandini Sundar, Prof. Deepti Priya Mehrotra , Ashok Agrwaal, Henri from Forum Asia and others. Youths and other activists also attended the convention in large numbers and extended their support towards the cause, the release added.
This convention was organized by Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC), Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Just Peace Foundation (JPF), Forum Asia and Human Rights Alert. Those who participated also signed sheets to endorse the demand of Repeal AFSPA from all regions (North east and J&K) and release of Irom Sharmila.
The release said Irom Sharmila, a woman from Manipur is completing 15 years of her hunger protest on November 2.
It further explained that she has been observing the fast as a form of protest since the year 2000 (when she was about 28 years old), and she had started it just after Malom massacre where Assam rifles had fired upon local civilians who were waiting at a bus stand in Malom, Imphal (Manipur) and all were killed.
Irom decided to register her protest because incidents of torture and killings were common in Manipur and in the veil of the powers under AFSPA, nothing could be done against culprit security personals, t said.
Irom Sharmila started her fast and did not leave it since then. She has been steadfast in demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, angry that it provides extra ordinary powers to security personals to operate in Manipur and other such areas, and these powers have been misused widely, it claimed.
AFSPA has provisions of shoot to kill mere on probability, but it does not stop here, instead it goes beyond and says that no case can be lodged against any security personals without prior sanction from the central government.
Sadly, in all the years, no prosecution approval was ever given by the central government and despite hundreds of reported cases of fake killings, torture and rapes, it further added.
As, Irom Sharmila did not leave her fast, the Manipur police has registered a case against her under section 309 of `attempt to suicide`™ and put her in jail, it said.
During her release from jail for a day in 2006, Irom Sharmila came to Delhi, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and later joined a fast at Jantar Mantar, it said.
It added that Delhi Police also registered another case under same section of attempt to suicide here in Delhi and matter went to court.
Presently, Irom Sharmila is under arrest by Manipur police and is living in a security ward of JN Hospital, Manipur.
The case in Delhi also is still going on and Irom Sharmila appears before the Delhi court on court notices periodically and the Manipur government has been producing her at the Delhi court.
Sadly, government is not listening, and even one of her demands to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been accepted yet, the release said.
This act, AFSPA is one of the most draconian and is not only dangerous to people, but damages the reputation of security forces and of world`™s largest democracy that is advocating for UNSC seat, the release also said.
The release also charged that many fake killings, rapes and cases of disappearances have happened although not all were reported.
Many national and international human rights organizations also have been raising their voices to demand the repeal of this act, it said.
Convention was started with a statement of families of victims of Malom massacre.
Neingulo Krome , Secretary General of NPMHR said `AFSPA is a violation of Human Rights and if India is truly a democratic country then this Act should be removed immediately.
At the end, it was announced that demand for repeal of AFSPA is a collective struggle. Its removal is needed for the protection of human rights and democratic values, it said.
The release said it was also announced that this full week is being observed in solidarity with 15 years of struggle of Irom Sharmila nationwide and at many places protests are happening.
It also said in the coming months, this movement would bring more voices together with a view to launching a big movement to demand the repeal of AFSPA.