New Delhi, December 02 2009: The winter session of the Indian Parliament had listed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, in short AFSPA Amendment Bill 2009 to be tabled for discussion.

The high level committee, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is headed by the Prime Minister include the Defence Minister (Pranab Mukherjee), the Home Minister (Shivraj Patil), the Finance Minister (P.Chidambaram), and the External Affairs Minister (Natwar Singh).

Taking into consideration the Working groups on Human rights in India and the UN - WGHR held a meeting with Members of Parliament today at Constitution club in New Delhi apprising them upon the issue surrounding the Act and also to put forward the demand of the people of North East India before the parliamentarians.

Members of parliament who were present include C.M Chang from Nagaland, Thokchom Meinya and Thangso Baite from Manipur and Ninong Ering from Arunachal Pradesh.

D Raja of the CPI was also present.

The members had assured their full cooperation with the civil bodies in pressuring the standing committee of Ministry of Home Affairs, that the demand of the people to be heard.

Prominent individuals who spoke at the briefing include Tarun Tejpal of Tehelka, Praful Bidwai , a senior journalist, Advocate Vrinda Grover challenged the legality of the Act.

That the AFSPA should be repealed and should not be incorporated in any new form.

The working group on Human Rights in India and the UN recalled upon the various committee appointed by the Government , the Jeevan Reddy committee, the Administrative reforms committee who have recommended the repeal of the Act.

The UN human rights committee and the UN committee on elimination of racial discrimination have also urged the government for the repeal of the Act which has been described by many as draconian.

Comment