Imphal, July 20 (PTI) The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) would not be withdrawn from Manipur because of continuing militant activities, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today said.
Replying to a question in the House, Singh said that although the AFSPA was withdrawn from seven assembly constituencies in Imphal municipal area last year following protests from NGOs, the act would remain in force in all other areas in view of the militant activities.
On steps taken by his government to save the life of social activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has gone on a fast unto death demanding withdrawal of the Act, Singh said special facilities, including medical care and security, is being provided to her at the J N Hospital here.
Showing posts with label AFSPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AFSPA. Show all posts
UN High Commission dwells for repeal of AFSPA
Imphal, March 25 : Speaking at a Conference organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi on March 23 during her first ever visit to India since her appointment, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay has among others, called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a communique of the Human Rights Alert (HRA) signed by its Programme Executive, Basantkumar Wareppa conveyed.
"India should repeal those dated and colonial-era laws that breach contemporary international human rights standards.
These range from laws which provide the security forces with excessive emergency powers, including AFSPA, to laws that criminalise homosexuality.
Such legal vestiges of a bygone ere are at odds with the vibrant dynamics and forwards thrust of the large sectors of the Indian polity," Mrs Pillay was quoted as saying.
The UN High Commissioner was also reported to have discussed laws like AFSPA during her meeting with the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister, P Chidambaram, the HRA statement said.
During her two-day trip to India, Navanethem Pillay had also visited several National Institutions, met various civil society organisations, Human Rights Activists and NGOs from across the country.
Attending the high profile meeting on March 22, Executive Director, Human Rights Alert, Babloo Loitongbam had also highlighted an overview on the state of affairs of human rights in North East India, particularly on Manipur, the press statement of HRA said.
According to a dispatch of the deliberation of Babloo Loitongbam on the occasion, the HRA Executive Director had underlined the continuation of insensitive and high-handed approach will aggravate the already simmering armed conflicts thereby exacerbating the already acute human rights and humanitarian situation in the NE region, while highlighting the upshots of AFSPA, 1958 and the abuse of rights on civilian population in the name of counter-terrorism or struggle for self-determination perpetrated by both the state and non-state armed groups.
Despite all major UN treaty bodies and the Government of India's own committees' recommendations for the repeal of AFSPA, the Act is still at large, Babloo highlighted.
Referring to the provisions laid down in the UNHR Committee, the rights activist also submitted that the problems in areas affected by terrorism and armed insurgency are essentially political in character and that the approach to resolving such problems must also, essentially be political while calling for the facilitation of an objective assessment of the human rights situation in the North East region by Special Rapporteur on the indigenous peoples.
"India should repeal those dated and colonial-era laws that breach contemporary international human rights standards.
These range from laws which provide the security forces with excessive emergency powers, including AFSPA, to laws that criminalise homosexuality.
Such legal vestiges of a bygone ere are at odds with the vibrant dynamics and forwards thrust of the large sectors of the Indian polity," Mrs Pillay was quoted as saying.
The UN High Commissioner was also reported to have discussed laws like AFSPA during her meeting with the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister, P Chidambaram, the HRA statement said.
During her two-day trip to India, Navanethem Pillay had also visited several National Institutions, met various civil society organisations, Human Rights Activists and NGOs from across the country.
Attending the high profile meeting on March 22, Executive Director, Human Rights Alert, Babloo Loitongbam had also highlighted an overview on the state of affairs of human rights in North East India, particularly on Manipur, the press statement of HRA said.
According to a dispatch of the deliberation of Babloo Loitongbam on the occasion, the HRA Executive Director had underlined the continuation of insensitive and high-handed approach will aggravate the already simmering armed conflicts thereby exacerbating the already acute human rights and humanitarian situation in the NE region, while highlighting the upshots of AFSPA, 1958 and the abuse of rights on civilian population in the name of counter-terrorism or struggle for self-determination perpetrated by both the state and non-state armed groups.
Despite all major UN treaty bodies and the Government of India's own committees' recommendations for the repeal of AFSPA, the Act is still at large, Babloo highlighted.
Referring to the provisions laid down in the UNHR Committee, the rights activist also submitted that the problems in areas affected by terrorism and armed insurgency are essentially political in character and that the approach to resolving such problems must also, essentially be political while calling for the facilitation of an objective assessment of the human rights situation in the North East region by Special Rapporteur on the indigenous peoples.
AFSPA decried at fast site
IMPHAL, Jan 15 : The ongoing relay hunger strike at PDA complex, Porompat organised by the Sharmila Kanba Lup in solidarity with Irom Sharmila`s fast unto death demanding repeal of the AFSPA was participated by 150 members of the Association of Independent Minds (AIMS) today.
Rishang Chothe, president of the Hericoun said that removing AFSPA only from Imphal municipality area would not bring a solution. Only its repeal from the entire state could bring some change in the situation in the state, he averred.
He said he had strong belief that the joint effort of the hill and valley people could bring about the repeal of the Act. Killing and capturing will not bring peace, only living together and sharing among the hill and valley would be the key to peace, he said.
Bimola Laishram, vice president of the AIMS said that the state government was not taking care of Sharmila and knowing the strength and sacrifice of Sharmila the AIMS named her as "Champion of human rights".
MA Rahman, retired IGP, said that the AFSPA was only causing a proliferation of underground elements and instead of giving protection it had become a burden for the public. He also added that the present government was not fit to rule because of its handling of the situation in the state.
Angomcha Araba, legal advisor of the AIMS said the Act was a monster and must be kept only in the jungle, not among the people. He asked strongly for the dissolution of the Act and said freedom must be there in the state.
Rishang Chothe, president of the Hericoun said that removing AFSPA only from Imphal municipality area would not bring a solution. Only its repeal from the entire state could bring some change in the situation in the state, he averred.
He said he had strong belief that the joint effort of the hill and valley people could bring about the repeal of the Act. Killing and capturing will not bring peace, only living together and sharing among the hill and valley would be the key to peace, he said.
Bimola Laishram, vice president of the AIMS said that the state government was not taking care of Sharmila and knowing the strength and sacrifice of Sharmila the AIMS named her as "Champion of human rights".
MA Rahman, retired IGP, said that the AFSPA was only causing a proliferation of underground elements and instead of giving protection it had become a burden for the public. He also added that the present government was not fit to rule because of its handling of the situation in the state.
Angomcha Araba, legal advisor of the AIMS said the Act was a monster and must be kept only in the jungle, not among the people. He asked strongly for the dissolution of the Act and said freedom must be there in the state.
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