The Hindu : National : Manipur women seek repeal of AFPSA

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Manipur women seek repeal of AFPSA

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: At the Kangla Fort in Imphal on July 15, 2004, about a dozen women disrobed themselves to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.

On Friday scores of people, including those who participated in the protest outside the then headquarters of the 17 Assam Rifles, came here to campaign for its repeal.

The women assailed the AFSPA, “under the garb of which countless human rights violations had occurred for decades.” They were joined by civil society groups, human rights activists and student unions.

“Along with fighting for its unconditional repeal, along with fighting for punishment for all the crimes committed by the armed forces against the people of Manipur, we must fight to ensure that the provisions of the AFPSA are not smuggled in through the backdoor in the form of a new fascist law,” according to Lok Raj Sangathan, a non-governmental organisation that works for the empowerment of the people.

The AFSPA, which grants the armed forces the power to shoot to kill on mere suspicion, violated several constitutional rights and was in contravention of both Indian and international law, according to activists of ‘Mothers of Manipur.’

Moreover, the AFSPA was an emergency legislation that had to be reviewed every six months. That it should be continued to be imposed for years with only a nominal, if any, process at all was unacceptable.

The immunity granted to Army personnel under the Act denied the citizens any chance of justice.

In addition, total immunity allowed the use of extra judicial killings by State-promoted groups in the northeast and Kashmir, the activists said.

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