MSAD sent a letter to President Barak Obama

27 January 2015 : New Delhi

A delegation of MSAD submitted letter to President of USA at USA Embassy, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 27 January 2015

A delegation of Manipur Student Association Delhi (MSAD ) had submitted a letter to the President of USA at the USA Embassy, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 27 January 2015.

The Delegation was led by Irengbam Priyobarta, President In charge, MSAD, Mr. Rajiv, Organisation Secy. and Mr. Adition, Finance secy. from who are standing from the left side in this photograph taken in front of the US Embassy.

Ref.No...... 20150127MSAD/Letter

Dated: 27/01/ 2015

To,
The President
United States of America
The White House
Washington D.C.
United States

We, the Manipur Students' Association Delhi,(MSAD) (Estd. in 1971) in Delhi, would like to extend our regards to you, the President of the United States of America on your visit to India as the Chief Guest of the 2015 Republic Day Observation. On this rare occasion, we would like to express some of our concerns.

India claims to be the largest democratic country in the world. But the reality insists that India is disguised with the mask of democracy. Manipur, presently a state in the North Eastern region of India is suffering from atrocities and oppressions from the Indian State and its complete suspension of the constitution of India under state of exception by imposing a martial law - The Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, by a civilian government since 1958. Manipur State is one of the states which have been ruled under AFSPA.

Historically, Manipur was the first democratic country in the South East Asia .In 1948, Manipur held its first election and formed a democratic government under the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947. But on 15th October 1949, Manipur was annexed by India. After about two years in 1950, India held its election in 1952.

Just after 8 years of India became a republic in 1950 on 26 January, in 1958, Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was passed only for Assam and Manipur (including all the north eastern region including North Eastern Frontiers region of today's Arunachal Pradesh) by the Indian National Congress government led by Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru with full support of the opposition parties in the Indian Parliament. Since you are in India, We would like to highlight undemocratic practices in the AFSPA regions of India.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance of 1942 that was imposed by the British to suppress the Indian National Movement especially the Quit India Movement led by M.K. Gandhi. AFSPA is the law with some amendments from the same act that was made more brutal and imposed to the racially and culturally different from Majority Indians particularly to the North Eastern States which are mostly inhabited by Mongoloid people. This law suspended the Indian constitution and allows regular armed forces on the civilian population and allows the armed forces to arrest and kill any person, destroy any properties and protected armed forces under legal protection for whatever they did in the disturbed areas.

This law is the violation of the principle of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. It was quite disappointed and unexpected as you describe "India as the largest democratic country in the world" We want the president of USA to know the brutality of AFSPA and expected to say "No" to the government of India to repeal this outdated in early 20th century colonial act of the British for a peaceful world in 21st century.

In the Press Conference by the honorable President of USA and the Prime Minister of India, at the Hyderabad House, New Delhi on 25th January, 2015, you had spoken about peace, stability and prosperity around the world but it will be a deliberate negligence if you ignore the oppressions and atrocities gifted by militarization in the name of AFSPA in Manipur & all the North Eastern states and J&K.

Here, we would like to draw your attention as you are one of the Nobel Peace Laureates, the honorable President Barack Obama to pay intense attention to the people democratic struggle and 15 years of Irom Chanu Sharmila’s hunger strike against the AFSPA. She has been on hunger strike since 2000 and she became the longest hunger strike in the history of mankind.

Most Indian believes that Democracy is holding many elections and unable to connect with liberty, equality and fraternity. We do not expect American President to believe in Democracy means elections. As you may be reminded by the statement made by the former President of the United States of America who is known as the father of democracy, Mr. Abraham Lincoln says " Democracy is the Government of the people, by the people, for the people" but in the case of India, Democracy means elections and in disturbed areas of North East and J&K, it is for Military by the military and of the military in practice.

MSAD is aware of the human rights violations by the American armed forces in many war areas but it admires how the rights of the American families in USA; American, African, Asian American, Women, are respected and protected. But interestingly, as you praise that "India is the largest democratic country in the world" but in practice India is one country that make laws on the basis of religion, cultural differences and racial origins. AFSPA was made for non Aryan/Dravidian- for Mongoloid race : North East in 1958 and one Muslim majority state-J&K in 1990. This state racism should be condemned by all the world powers.

So, we appeal to the President of United States of America to take a firm decision against state racism and undemocratic laws, AFSPA.

Thank you

With regards

Andyson Oinam
General Secy. MSAD

Irengbam Priyobata
President-Incharge, MSAD