The roundtable also resolved that in the interim, the government should endorse the recommendation of MHRC to the government o£ Manipur to revoke the “disturbed area” status from the whole of Manipur and to recommend the government of India to repeal the AFSPA.
TFM Report
A women’s roundtable organised by Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) on Saturday has resolved that a mass-action will be initiated if the state government ignores the recommendation of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA).
Commemorating the 63rd Anniversary of the President of India giving assent to AFSPA on September 11, the women’s roundtable also resolved that it was reiterating the long-standing demand of the people of Manipur to repeal AFSPA.
It was also resolved that in the interim, the government should endorse the recommendation of MHRC to the government o£ Manipur to revoke the “disturbed area” status from the whole of Manipur and to recommend the government of India to repeal the AFSPA.
A press note issued by Lourembam (O) Nganbi Leima, AMKIL President said that the Women’s Round-table on Invisible 9/11 deliberated on the catastrophic impact of AFSPA on the lives of the ordinary people of Manipur that had left a trail of “egregious human rights violations including rape, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detention etc., by the 63 years of imposition AFSPA in Manipur.
The roundtable also acknowledged the “selfless sacrifices made by brave women and men human rights defenders struggling for the repeal of AFSPA in Manipur and beyond. It has also took cognizance of all the official committees and commissions that reviewed the application of AFSPA, including Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005), Second Administrative Reform Commission (2007), Justice Verma Committee (2012), Santosh Hedge Commission (2013) etc., that had recommended the repeal of AFSPA.
The press note said that United Nations Human Rights mechanism including the Human Rights Committee, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee, Committee on Discrimination Against Women, Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defender, Special Rapporteur Summary, Arbitrary or Extrajudicial Executions, Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women as well the Working Group on Universal Periodic Review on India have all consistently recommended the review and repeal of AFSPA.
The roundtable also expressed outrage that the central government was making efforts to protect the armed forces personnel of the union found to be allegedly involved in the extrajudicial execution of civilians by the CBI/SIT investigations conducted on the direction of the Supreme Court of India by denying prosecution sanction under section 6 of the AFSPA in all the cases.
Participants to the event also welcomed the direction of the MHRC on August 2, 2021 that recommended the government of Manipur to revoke the “disturbed area” status from the whole of Manipur in the light of the improved law and order situation in the state and to recommend the repeal of AFSPA to the central government.
The roundtable was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) Headquarters, Dhanamanjuri University Campus, Imphal, with Khaidem Mani, acting chairperson, Manipur Human Rights Commission as the chief guest and Haobijam Chalamba Meitei, President, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) as the guest of honour.