Public Meeting on Indian State’s War Game in Manipur - 15 July 2010
Manipur Student's Association Delhi (MSAD)

New Delhi, July 11, 2010

Public Meeting on
Indian State’s War Game in Manipur

Date: 15 July 2010
Venue: Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Time: 2 pm to 5:30 pm
Organised by: Manipur Students’ Association Delhi

Dear friends,

Repeal the law that is responsible for killing of civilians with impunity! This is the unceasing cry. This is our demand. This is the most fundamental democratic demand that remains under suppression ever since the Indian state had established control over Manipur in October 1949. In December 1950, Comrade Irabot had condemned, “the Government of Nehru is a Fascist Government.”

On 6 March Miss Chanu Rose of Ngaprum Khullen had committed suicide after she was raped by BSF personnel. Since November 2000 Miss Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on hunger strike in protest against AFSPA. On 4 October 2003 Miss Nandeibam Sanjita of Jiri committed suicide after she was raped by the paramilitary force. On 15 July 2004 about a dozen of women in protest against custodial rape and murder of Miss Thangjam Manorama had stripped themselves and demanded, “Indian Army Rape Us”, “Indian Army Take Our Flesh”. On 15 August 2004 Mr. Pebam Chittranjan self-immolated in protest against state terrorism. As the movement for defending human rights against the backdrop of escalating assault on democratic rights continues; we, today, raise a simple question – why allow the armed forces to kill people with impunity?

AFSPA that allows the Indian armed personnel to kill people with impunity may come & go. The condition of state terrorism that kills and torture people will continue under an exploitative bourgeois democracy that operates with the support of suppressive machineries. The rulers may try to cover up their exploitative material objective; but, we, the victim of subjugation & oppression certainly feel the pain & trauma of their selfish war game.

For all these reasons and based on our experience, we no longer see AFSPA in a box of its own. Although AFSPA (sic. state terrorism) stands out as open assault directly keeping under suppression the right to life & freedom we are aware that it constitute an element of an overall war game that is being waged upon the people. The war game involves series of criss-crossing and reinforcing tactics that only perpetuate subjugation & oppression. India’s foreign policy in Manipur, demographic policy, monopoly market system, destructive projects, communal divisive policy, state terrorism, and assault on democratic activists are some of evident facets of the overall war game that is being played in Manipur.

MSAD considers that while the Indian State’s war game in Manipur is semi-colonial in character, the overarching neo-liberal exploitative regime has been carrying out various forms of repression, oppression and exploitation in other parts of the Indian sub-continent. This character is dominantly visible in Manipur, some other Northeastern regions, Kashmir and tribal areas where there is a visible collaboration between rulers, military or paramilitary forces and MNCs.

The struggle for the democratic rights of the people of Manipur, therefore, necessarily had to understand the situation and work in unity with other democratic forces towards the final victory of people’s democracy. MSAD, therefore, on this occasion of the public meeting, cordially invites you to kindly attend the meeting to express your views and also to show solidarity to the people’s democratic movement against assault on democratic rights.

Thank You.

Manipur Students' Association Delhi (Estd. 1971)
Apunbana Yaipharae
(Unity is Victory)