3 NOV 2015, New Delhi
With the recent announcement of Meghalaya High Court to direct Centre to impose AFSPA in the Garo Hills area is very unfortunate. Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, with due respect to honorable high court of Meghalaya, appeals the high court to review its decision. SSSC also appeals to centre, not to impose AFSPA at any other place and to avoid making common people victims of such harsh laws.
SSSC also see that it is the same time when numerous protests and events were going on in India and abroad to mark 15 years of heroic struggle of Irom Sharmila, it should also be noted that it is 15th anniversary of Malom massacre where justice has not been delivered till yet. Not only these, but even many other cases are still under jurisdiction of law and waiting for justice in differenmt courts of North East as well as in Supreme Court. All these cases tell a history of atrocities that had happened in the veil of AFSPA because of unchecked unlimited powers.
SSSC believe that though the concerns are genuine, but not the remedy. imposing AFSPA can have more grave effects on the situation. At present, common population is affected with anti-state insurgencies, but with imposing this act, there is a possibility of happening the same , though may be lesser ways, by centrally deployed forces.
Convener of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, Ravi Nitesh said ‘ We also appeal to high court that it must ask to State of Meghalaya to take responsibilities in more serious ways and to take action in this regard through direction to state government to deploy more numbers of security personals as well as to resolve the issues through all possible ways. On the other hand, we also appeal that even if situation seems out of control, paramilitary forces should be first choice instead of having full deployment of army with an act like AFSPA. We also appeal common people and peoples’ representatives, local political leaders and civil society organisations to come forward to appeal for the same.’
