Silent protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2011:
Protesting against enactment of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 by the Indian Parliament, Just Peace Foundation (JPF) would be taking out a silent protest march from Porompat to Palace Compound on September 11 .
In this regard, JPF has appealed to all the civil organisations, NGOs, senior citizens, student bodies, etc to support and participate in the protest march.
Denounced by human rights defenders as 'draconian', Armed Forces Special Powers Act, commonly known as AFSPA, was passed by the Indian Parliament on September 11, 1958 .
According to a statement issued by managing trustee of JPF Kh Anandi, the silent protest march would begin from 9 am on September 11.After gathering of all the people in front of the Shanglen of Sharmila Kanba Lup at Porompat, the protest march would be flagged off from JN Hospital and proceed upto Shumang Leela Shanglen at Palace Compound, where a silent sit-in protest demonstration would be carried out till 4 pm.
On the other hand, JPF would join hands with Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) in observing September 11 as black day at Arts Faculty, Delhi University from 11 am to 4 pm.
Issuing a joint statement in this connection, MSAD president Beerhurekha Samom and JPF co-ordinator (Delhi) Seram Rojesh said that it was on September 11, 1958 when Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the most draconian and undemocratic legislation enacted by the Indian Parliament, was signed into a law by the President of India.
Since then, the black law has been in force in the North East region without any break and judicial review.
This legislation is an attack on democracy, the joint statement added.