Candle Light Vigil in Solidarity with Irom Sharmila's hunger strike at Delhi
5th November 2015, New Delhi
Candle Light Vigil in Solidarity with Irom Sharmila's hunger strike at Delhi on 5th November 2015
NEFIS organizes Candle Light Vigil in Solidarity with Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike against Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Condemns Meghalaya High Court’s shameful recommendation to implement this black act in Garo Hills .
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) organized a Candle Light vigil today, 5th of November to mark the 15th year of Irom Sharmila’s formal commencing of her hunger strike against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The candle light vigil was organized at Vishwavidyalaya Metro station in solidarity with Irom Sharmila’s heroic struggle and saw huge presence of North East people as well as students from other parts of the country. It is to be noted that on 2nd November 2000 a terrible tragedy shook the state of Manipur when 10 civilians were shot dead by paramilitary forces at a local bus-stop in Malom, Manipur. Among the deceased was an 18-year old National Bravery Award winner.
The massacre triggered angry protests across Manipur and led to Irom Sharmila going on her epic fast a few days later. Justice, however, continues to be denied in the case of the Malom massacre and many other such cases. Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila continues to be heckled by cases filed against her and periodic arrests. NEFIS has hence pledged to take forward the nation-wide struggle against the draconian and anti-people Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Candle Light Vigil in Solidarity with Irom Sharmila's hunger strike at Delhi on 5th November 2015
NEFIS also condemns the recent Meghalaya High Court’s recommendation to implement this black act in the Garo hills area. AFSPA has historically been used to subjugate the North East people and High Court in recommending this act has shown itself to be a stooge of Indian Government. At a time when there is a growing demand to revoke this draconian Act, Meghalaya high court instead of upholding justice, is itself partaking of injustice and allowing it to prevail.
It should be noted that AFSPA has been enforced in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in the North East states where it is serving as a useful weapon for the Indian State to curb the democratic rights and freedom of the people of these regions.
Under the draconian provisions of AFSPA the government's judgment on why an area is found to be ‘disturbed’ is not subject to judicial review. Similarly, there can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under this law, except with the sanction of the Central Government.
Moreover, this controversial law provides dangerous impunity to the armed forces for detaining, using lethal force and entering and searching premises without warrant. Since armed soldiers trained in combat and in war have no training in civilian law or policing procedures, atrocities under AFSPA are inevitable and are growing. Hence, NEFIS demands that AFSPA should be repealed at the earliest from all states, thereby ending the miseries of the people.
AFSPA has been condemned nationally and internationally by all democratic and justice loving people. Even certain government-appointed commissions (including the recent Justice Verma Committee) and human rights organizations have pressed for the withdrawal of the Act.
NEFIS has called upon all the different communities of the North East, as well as people across the country to raise a unified struggle against AFSPA.
Chinglen Khumukcham
Convener,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
Email: nefis(doT)delhi(aT)gmail(doT)com
* This Press Relese was sent to e-pao.net by North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) who can be contacted at nefis(doT)delhi(aT)gmail(doT)com
This Press Release was posted on November 06 2015
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