Entry of 54 year of AFSP Act in Manipur
- Just Peace Foundation (JPF) -
18th August 2011 :: Imphal, Manipur
On this day, 53 years ago, the Parliament of India enacted the The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) despite strong opposition from many Members of Parliament (MP) including our two Manipuri lone MPs namely Mr. Laishram Achaw Singh and Mr. Rungsung Suisa .
The Government of India promulgated an ordinance called the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance on 22 May 1958 to meet the challenges of an extraordinary situation arising out of the assertions of the Nagas. This ordinance was a copy from a similar ordinance promulgated by the colonial British on 15 August 1942 to suppress the uprising of Quit India Movement. It gave extraordinary powers to the members of the armed forces, such as arrest without warrant and shoot to kill on the basis of suspicion.
The Parliament subsequently converted this ordinance, which was brought in as a temporary measure, into an Act on 18 August 1958 and the President gave his assent on 11 September 1958.
In this regard, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), National Fish Workers' Federation (NFF) and People Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) has called for a nationwide protest Free Sharmila, Repeal AFSPA calling upon the Government of India to repeal the AFSP Act and free Irom Sharmila from May 22 to August 18. Many civil society groups shown solidarity in various ways to support the epic struggle for Irom Sharmila as a part of this nationwide campaign.
Just Peace Foundation (JPF) also organised a Children's Parliament on AFSPA on May 22 in Manipur to call for an action and to strengthen the nationwide campaign. A Press Conference was again organised at Press Club in New Delhi on June 25 and later the same day candle light prayer was conducted in the evening at Rajghat to support the non-violent protest of Sharmila with a demand to “Save Irom Sharmila” by many civil society groups including NAPM, Asha Parivar, Gandhi Global Family, Jagriti Mahila Samiti, Khudai Khidmatgar, Yuva Koshish and Mission Bhartiyam. In many other cities of India including Patna, Jaipur, Bengaluru etc. similar programs were conducted.
Hind Swaraj Forum, Kerala is organising Irom Sharmila's play Le Mashale from 16 – 26 August 2011 in ten different locations of Kerala to support Sharmila's epic struggle. Le Mashale is a monologue play in which Sharmila tells the story of Manipur through it's fables, dances and major incidences which changes her life. Le Mashale will be on stage in Chennai and Bengaluru as well in the coming days.
Most importantly, to mark the entry of the 54th year of AFSP Act, Just Peace Foundation (JPF) is happy to announce that REDRESS, Asian Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Alert came up with a report “The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in Manipur and other States of the Northeast of India: sanctioning repression in violation of India's human rights obligations” today, the 18 August 2011.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Jyotilal Longjam
Co-ordinator
* This Press Release was sent by Just Peace Foundation (JPF)
The sender can be contacted at jyotinova(at)gmail(dot)com
This PR was webcasted on August 18 2011 .
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