A convention on Repeal AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) was organised at New Delhi on 1 November with the objective to make the demand of Repeal AFSPA a political priority. This convention marked the completion of 15 years of hunger strike by Irom Sharmila, better known as Iron Lady of Manipur, to demand Repeal of AFSPA.
The convention was attended by various eminent speakers, including Neingulo Krom (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.
This convention was organised 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.
Irom Sharmila, a woman from Manipur completed 15 years of her hunger protest on 2 November. She is observing 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 wherein 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 guilty security personnel. Irom started her fast and did not leave it since then. Her only demand is Repeal AFSPA, as it is AFSPA that is the main culprit, because it provides extraordinary powers for security personnel to operate in Manipur and other such areas and these powers have been misused widely.
AFSPA has provisions of shoot to kill on mere probability, but it does not stop here, instead it goes beyond and says that no case can be lodged against any security personnel without pre-sanction from the Central Government. Sadly, during all these years, no approval was given by the Government and despite hundreds of reported cases of fake killings, torture and rapes, nothing could be done to punish culprits.
As, Irom Sharmila did not stop her fast, Manipur police registered a case against her under Section 309 of ‘attempt to suicide’ and put her in jail. During her release from jail for a day in 2006, Irom came to Delhi, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and later joined a fast at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police also registered another case under the same section of attempt to suicide in Delhi and the matter went to court. Presently, Irom is under arrest by Manipur police and living her life in security ward of JLN Hospital of Manipur. The case in Delhi also, is still going on and she appears before the Delhi court on court notices when the Manipur government becomes ready to produce her in Delhi.
Despite her fast for the last 15 years and the government’s ignorance, even suppression through putting her behind bars, did not break her faith in democracy or non-violence. She always smiles, and tells, ‘I have faith in democracy. Government will listen one day.’
Sadly, the government is not listening, and even one of her demands to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been accepted yet. She thinks the Prime Minister does not want to meet her as probably the Government has no reply for all her demands and questions about suppression of people through AFSPA.
This Act, AFSPA, is one of the most draconian one that is not only dangerous to people, but even damage the reputation of security forces and of the world’s largest democracy that is trying for UN Security Council seat.
The Government’s own committees have recommended repeal of this Act. Even many fake killings, rapes and cases of disappearances were not only reported but even proved, but till now the government has not repealed this Act. Many national and international human rights organisations have also raised their voice to demand repeal of this act. State leadership of BJP in Manipur and PDP in J&K had favoured the repeal of this Act, but now they are silent.
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 the demand to repeal AFSPA is a collective struggle and demand that is very much required to protect human rights as well as democratic values. It was 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 being organised. It was also announced that in coming months, this movement will bring more voices together and will start a big movement to demand Repeal AFSPA.
[KASHIF AHMED FARAZ is Asst. National Coordinator, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) New Delhi]