“We are shocked and surprised by the stoic silence maintained by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur at this critical juncture. After all, he built his political career using the anti-AFSPA movement,” the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR) said.
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Strongly urging the Government of Manipur to put its weight for the repeal of AFSPA in order to fulfill the long-standing demand of the people of Manipur, the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR) demanded that chief minister N Biren Singh should join the other chief ministers of Northeast in pressing for the repeal of AFSPA.
CSCHR, in a release on Tuesday, said that it was encouraging to note the chief ministers of Nagaland as well as that of Meghalaya have revibrated that voice of sanity to repeal this draconian law. The issue has now echoed in the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi.
“However, we are shocked and surprised by the stoic silence maintained by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur at this critical juncture. After all, he built his political career using the anti-AFSPA movement,” the coalition added.
CSCHR also joined the condemnation against the indiscriminate shooting down of unarmed coal mine labors by the armed forces of the Union and subsequent repression of the protestors using lethal weapons resulting into the death of at least 16 civilians and injuries to a score of others at Oting, Mon district, Nagaland on December 4, 2021.
CSCHR reminded the Government of india of its obligation to not only institute prompt, though, independent and impartial investigation but also for restitution of the loss suffered by the families of the victim caused by the wrongful act of the state.
“The Oting Massacre is not an isolated incident, but it is yet another manifestation of the consistent pattern of atrocities committed by the Indian military deployed under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in the Northeast region for more than half a century. Mention may be made of Heirangoithong massacre, Operation Bluebird (Oinam massacre), Makokchung massacre, RMC massacre, Malom massacre etc.”
CSCHR further maintained that the unfortunate incident has rekindled the longstanding demand for the repeal of AFSPA. All the official committees and commissions looking into the issue have consistently recommended the repeal. The United Nations human rights mechanism including all the relevant Treaty Bodies, Thematic Special Procedures as well as the Universal Periodic Review have recommended the repeal of AFSPA as it grossly violates the most basic human rights, it added.
Meanwhile, students of DM College of Arts and Manipur University Students’ Union held candle light vigils at the DM University campus and Manipur University campus respectively on Tuesday condemning the Oting massacre. Slogans were also raised by the students.