'Repeal AFSPA' resonates across the country
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 11 2011: Protesting the day the Arm Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 was imposed, a silent march and sit in protest was organized by the Just Peace Foundation and Sharmila Kanba Lup today.

Sharmila Kanba Lup under the initiative of the Just Peace Foundation organized the silent protest rally starting from JN Hospital to the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen.

The rallyists displayed banners and placard which read 'Repeal AFSPA'.

The rally was also attended by people from the hill districts of the state.

Hundreds of people took part in the silent protest rally.

After the rally a sit in protest was also staged at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen where the protestors tied black scarfs in their mouth and carried out the protest.

Speaking to reporters, K Janaki Leima, Convenor, Sharmila Kanba Lup said that the Silent march and sit in protest is being carried out to abolish AFSPA from the soil of Manipur for ever.

Silent protest rally against AFSPA, 1958 in Imphal

This Act has snatched away the Right to Life of many citizens of the state which is guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

She further said that there is still hope that all the Human Rights Organization of the world will support the movement carried out by Irom Chanu Sharmila for more than ten years to repeal AFSPA, even though the state and central government has turn a deaf year to her agitations.

Managing Trustee of Just Peace Foundation, Kh Anandi said that the central government's racial discrimination like attitude in dealing with the 10 year old fast of Sharmila is absolutely not acceptable.

The different agitations carried out by Just Peace Foundation will continue until the Act is repealed.

Elsewhere in the state, around 50 persons organized a special prayer in a local mosque at Lilong in Thoubal district and also organized a day long sit in protest demanding the repeal of AFSPA.

A press statement release Just Peace Foundation said that the people's voices to repeal the Act is reverberating in various corners of the country.

In Delhi University more than 200 students and activists from all over the country gathered at the Arts Faculty gate to register their protest against AFSPA.

Representatives of the National Alliance of People Movement (NAPM), People Movement for Democratic Rights (PUDR), All India Students Alliance (AISA), JNU Students Union etc spoke during the meeting.

It was further resolved that a solidarity peace rally will be brought out on the 2nd October 2011 under the banner of Right to Life campaign.

A torch rally is also being organized in JNU campus tonight, added the release.

Internationally, the Solidarity for Democratization Movement in Asia and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development in a press release also called upon the government of India to demilitarize Kashmir and the North East and also to repeal AFSPA, said the release.