On the eve of International Human Rights Day, various civil societies and
students group in Delhi join together on the launching of long term Campaign Against AFSPA, Militarisation and Impunity.
The rally was marched from Mandi House to Parliament. Security forces and protestors had a major scuffle for denying the permission to enter the Parliament Streets although the permission had already been through by the officials. Later it was allowed to go Parliament Street after reaching the message through MHA.
There was a speech at Parliament street where everyone had counterd the recent statement by PM in Manipur that AFSPA will be removed only when peace is prevail in Manipur and he is waiting for that moment.
Referring to the statement Dr A Bimol Akoijam, Associate Researcher, CSDS said " He agrees with PM and waiting for that moment too. But that moment will come only when he and his political parties change their attitude of suspicion and mistrust in their mind on the people of Manipur,North East and J&K.
This attitude of inherent colonial attitude is the factor not the AFSPA. AFSPA is not a problem, it is a symptoms of deeper political game of mistrust to the people of this region.
They don't care how many people are being protesting, how Chittaranjan dies, how women protest nude against this Act. Till they change this inherent
colonial attitude peace will not be prevail and its a big laydown for us".
Ravi Himadri, Director, The Othermedia, said " It is a shameful to the PM in a way blaming the people by saying it is to the people that could bring peace in the regions. The GOI is more concerned on the territorial integrity rather than people's security. This struggle will be long and we should not let Sharmila down, we need to support her morally atleast"
Willfred Dcosta, General Secretary, INSAF, said " it is a shame that India a largest democracy, our constitution has been violated by AFSPA. Military budget has been increase this year to nearly 1 lakh crore and the government is keen to keep military and political apparatus denying all basic human rights.
Instead of accepting the demand from the Manipuri struggle the GOI is planing to extend to whole regions of India under Unlawful Activities Act, 1967"
Dhanashree Deka, final year law students said " The situation in Assam is not different from Manipur. Mother do not know when her son might drag down and kill, father sleeps with fear of might having to witness their daughter getting rape in front of them and children live with insecurity of becoming orphans at any moment.
Under this Act a 5 year old child can be shot at under the suspicion and if i pick up arms against it India will call me a terrorist. If i go out and protest then GOI will declare the regions as disturbed area and avoid with a law like AFSPA.
If i stay silent and tolerate India will call my land as land of fool and discrimination will continue.
Finally if shunned off my cloth from a bosom and go out for nude protest i'll hear voices calling me backward and uncultured and nomadic"
Please check the picture gallery here.
The above information is provided by Kshetrimayum Onil. You can reach him at [email protected] . This report was webcasted on December 12th , 2006
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