SHILLONG, NOV 2: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) said it is time the centre should introspect on imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the north eastern region to ensure there is no room for ‘indefinite military rule’ in a democratic set up.n
“The centre has been castigating Pakistan, where the final authority is the army, but it is similar here where the AFSPA is being invoked in the seven states of the north east, where the army is exempted from judicial account for its act against anyone they suspect as militants,” NEDF consultant Rev PBM Basaiawmoit told reporters at a news conference on Monday.
Referring to the recommendation made by several committees including the UN Special Rapporteur, Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission and Santosh Committee for repealing the AFSPA, the NEDF consultant, however, lamented, “Yet, the answer from the civilian authority is because the military wants it… this is like surrendering its power.”
Stating that the press meet which was held on account of Irom Sharmila completing 15 years of her non-stop fast to have the AFSPA, 1958 repealed, Rev Basaiawmoit said, “I really adore and appreciate her, who at the age of 17 years made her sacrifice to have this law out from the statutory books.”
“The North East Dialogue Forum wants Iron Sharmila’s struggle to be heard by those in authority and those who have the power to delete laws and create obsolete,” he added.
According to him, why should AFSPA continue in the north east region including Meghalaya, where the Act is stretches about 10 kilometers along the border with Kamrup-Goalpara district of Assam.
He recalled what chief minister Mukul Sangma at a time when the issue related to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) was at its peak in the state had stated – “We will use AFSPA”, which means anytime the state can bring it.
Stating army rule has no room in a democratic set up, he said, “This is because we have so many laws to deal with such issues. But who gains from this (AFSPA), when we still see drugs and human trafficking is taken place.”
Appealing to the people of Meghalaya to also share the burden and be united in this struggle, Rev Basaiawmoit pointed out at the Mookhep firing incident, the mysterious death of former Patharkmah Sub Inspector PJ Marbaniang besides the fake encounters and said, “IF without AFSPA such atrocities can be committed, you can imagine if AFSPA is being implemented.”
According to him, section 6 of the Act gives protection and nobody can file any FIR against persons acting under AFSPA.
When asked, the NEDF consultant said that the forum would seek to mobilize more public opinion to put pressure on the centre to repeal the Act from the region.-By Our Reporter
if afspa is for militants groups. let hope the ngo’s & also the pressure groups fight along with govt in the state n centre to uproot the militants groups from whole of northeast region of india. we want peace and development.