Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19, 2010:
Former MLA and former Law Secretary L Ibomcha Singh has criticised comment of the Army Chief Gen VK Singh that AFSPA is an 'enabling' provision not 'arbitrary'.
In a statement, L Ibomcha, who had authored a book on human rights violations by security forces under AFSPA, said that the Army Chief is yet to know the problems of human rights violations in the North East States and Jammu and Kashmir.
Ibomcha added that people have been suffering for decades under the Act but security forces are still unable to control insurgency in both the regions.
A responsible person like Gen VK Singh should not have made such statements as AFSPA Review Committee set up by the Centre had already submitted its report for repealing the controversial Act.
Maintaining that it is now clear that imposition of AFSPA is a futile exercise Ibomcha added that it would erode the delicate social fabric if it continues.
He said that the Act had not only inflicted harm on human beings but also cause mental suffering to thousands of innocent civilians.