By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Popular Front of India (PFI), Manipur State, organized a state-level seminar on the theme,” Armed Forces Special Powers Act – 1958 (AFSPA)” on 13th November, 2011 at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, in Imphal. The seminar was organized as a part of the campaign for “Social Justice Conference,” to be held on 26th and 27th November, 2011 at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi.
National Executive Council member of Popular Front of India and Editor of Kerala-based news daily Thejas, Prof. P. Koya; Former member Human Rights Commission Manipur, Ng Nongyai; Lecturer of Lilong Haoreibi College, Dr. Syed Ahmed; Editor of the local daily Hueiyen Lanpao (Meitei Mayek), M. Shiva Dutta Luwang; Convenor of Sharmila Kanba Lup, Ema Janaki Leima and President of Popular Front of India, Manipur State, Mufti Arshad Hussain were the Presidium members of the seminar.
Prof.P. Koya speaking at the seminar
Speaking at the seminar, Prof. Koya discussed about the existing security laws in India, especially AFSPA. “Since the 1970s what we witness is that some of the emergency laws have become part of the existing laws and these laws are being used by our security forces to suppress democratic dissents even if these dissents are non-violent. AFSPA and other special security laws are extensively used to suppress the rights of the people to struggle for economic and political justice. All these laws are now used for political purposes, just like any other security laws, the politicians and ruling class have been misusing the AFSPA since the implementation of the Act. This act suppresses the democratic process in Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir and other states where it has been implemented” he said.
Paying his respect to Irom Sharmila, Prof. Koya said, “Manipur is a land of jewels and Irom Sharmila is the rarest of the jewels that Manipur has produced. Only a lady of extraordinary courage, bravery and perseverance can fight the powerful Indian state.”
Addressing the seminar, Shivadutta Luwang said that though India is regarded as the largest democratic country in the world, the people have been made to suffer with the imposition of many draconian acts, including AFSPA. “AFSPA has not only demeaned the meaning of democracy, but also blemished its image, and there can be no social justice, if there is crisis in the democracy”, he added.
Dr Syed Ahmed, who spoke on the issue of reservation for the Muslim community, highlighted some of the key findings of Sachar Committee report and Ranganath Mishra Commission report to show that Muslim community is the most deprived group in this country. He also said that the recommendations made in these reports, including the reservation of posts and seats in the government employment and educational institutions, should be implemented without delay.
The audiance at the seminar
Ima Janaki Leima said that Sharmila has been on hunger-strike for more than 10 years to save humanity, so we need to join hands to save her live. She urged the people to boycott the up-coming Assembly election in Manipur if the ruling government and other political parties aren’t committed towards repealing the draconian AFSPA.
Mufti Arshad Hussain said both the Central and State Government are not sensitive to the demand of the civil society organizations for scrapping the draconian Act, which has become a tool for the security personals to arbitrarily detain or kill any individual on the ground of mere suspicion, that too in a Nation where its constitution enshrines political, economic and religious rights of every citizen.