Imphal, July 11 2009: While cautioning the Government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur and the North East region, International Mothers Association has resolved to undergo indefinite silent sit-in-protest at Rajpat Gate, Delhi from the last week of November this year.

A press conference was held at Imphal Press Club, Imphal on Saturday in this regard.

Addressing the press conference, R.K Khuman Leima, president of International Mothers Association informed that Agatha Sangma, Union Minister of Rural Development, Member of Parliament (MP), Meghalaya and Th.Meinya Singh, MP of Manipur have been insisting the Government of India to repeal AFSPA from the entire region of North East.

If the government of India does not repeal the draconian law from the North East region at the earliest, International Mothers Association would undergo indefinite silent sit-in-protest at Rajpat Gate, Delhi from the last week of November this year, added the president.

She further cautioned that the association would take the matter to the International Convention of Geneva and to all the ambassadors in India and expose the act of the extra-judicial killing, humiliation, torture and molesting women by the security forces under the draconian law, AFSPA.

Informing the people of both the hills and valley of Manipur to join hands together, kakom Lunglu Kamei, president of Kabui Mothers Association asserted to fight against the Government of India to repeal AFSPA from the state.

She further added that the people of the hill districts have not yet understood AFSPA since its imposition.

New body formed: Giving an indication to the huge number of families affected by the armed conflict and killings in alleged fake encounters in Manipur, an organization named All Manipur Macha Amadi Mapuroiba Hatokpekhraba Organization was formed today at the residence of late Longjam Uttam Kumar of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak, Imphal West district.

The organization is formed by widows and mothers who had lost their husbands and children in alleged fake encounters with security forces personnel.

The aims and objectives of the organization are to stop the rise in number of widows due to fake encounters with security forces personnel; to highlight the fact that the present armed conflict cannot be suppressed or solved by fake encounters; to promote peace and to make the people and the government realize that development is not just by developing infrastructures, roads, etc.

while there is grief, pain and cries of separation in almost every household.

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